Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Antananarivo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Antananarivo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $571 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,045 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,519 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 77% more than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Antananarivo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Antananarivo 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$3.34 MGA 14.0K

79.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$18.75 MGA 78.6K

75.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.81 MGA 20.2K

47.40%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.29 MGA 5,424

32.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.06 MGA 4,432

3.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.59 MGA 2,494

32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$0.75 MGA 3,137

124.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$1.57 MGA 6,583

95.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.12 MGA 4,710

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$1.09 MGA 4,567

15.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.74 MGA 3,113

86.49%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.07 MGA 8,664

5.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$10.33 MGA 43.3K

-57.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.55 MGA 19.1K

23.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$4.42 MGA 18.5K

101.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.31 MGA 5,510

78.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$0.59 MGA 2,492

79.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$1.08 MGA 4,516

38.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.00 MGA 4,189

38.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$0.73 MGA 3,060

57.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.00 MGA 4,212

16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.34 MGA 1,437

161.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.69 MGA 2,905

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$2.61 MGA 10.9K

-12.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$5.49 MGA 23.0K

93.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$0.82 MGA 3,438

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.28 MGA 5,347

92.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.12 MGA 491

616.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$2.92 MGA 12.2K

-49.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$1.71 MGA 7,158

14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$4.39 MGA 18.4K

76.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.23 MGA 5,148

-22.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$12.0K MGA 50.4M

50.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$24.0K MGA 100.8M

10.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$58.5 MGA 245.5K

40.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$15.69 MGA 65.8K

-39.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$47.42 MGA 198.9K

-48.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$36.55 MGA 153.3K

-29.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$6.34 MGA 26.6K

199.68%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$6.78 MGA 28.4K

-42.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$72.2 MGA 302.8K

328.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

-48.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$30.63 MGA 128.4K

91.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$29.63 MGA 124.2K

9.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$77.8 MGA 326.3K

31.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$76.3 MGA 320.0K

42.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$382 MGA 1.6M

24.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$77.8 MGA 326.1K

387.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$584 MGA 2.4M

43.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$436 MGA 1.8M

66.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$699 MGA 2.9M

299.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$587 MGA 2.5M

106.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$122 MGA 509.8K

320.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-10.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $382 in Antananarivo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 321% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Antananarivo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $151 – making Antananarivo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Antananarivo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $857 in Antananarivo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Antananarivo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $571 in Antananarivo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $72.2 in Antananarivo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Antananarivo, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Antananarivo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Antananarivo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Antananarivo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.