Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Ambatolampy Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Ambatolampy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $462 in Toamasina versus $476 in Ambatolampy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $753 in Toamasina versus $704 in Ambatolampy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,045 in Toamasina versus $932 in Ambatolampy.

Living in Toamasina costs roughly 3% less than in Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Toamasina 66% lower, Ambatolampy 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 MGA 9,776

$2.68 MGA 11.9K

-17.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.66 MGA 69.6K

$10.12 MGA 45.0K

54.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MGA 20.8K

$5.68 MGA 25.3K

-17.43%

Cappuccino

$1.17 MGA 5,180

$1.68 MGA 7,479

-30.36%

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

$0.75 MGA 3,345

$0.83 MGA 3,693

-9.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,608

$0.46 MGA 2,050

28.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 MGA 4,156

$1.02 MGA 4,527

-8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MGA 5,703

$2.24 MGA 9,953

-42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 MGA 4,629

$0.87 MGA 3,849

19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 MGA 3,075

$1.05 MGA 4,662

-34.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 4,244

$0.78 MGA 3,463

21.79%

Eggs

$1.88 MGA 8,368

$2.13 MGA 9,461

-11.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.08 MGA 53.7K

$8.75 MGA 38.9K

38.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 MGA 29.5K

$4.47 MGA 19.9K

48.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.14 MGA 22.9K

$4.81 MGA 21.4K

6.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 MGA 7,284

$1.07 MGA 4,769

53.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MGA 6,179

$0.54 MGA 2,422

157.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 MGA 6,987

$1.01 MGA 4,511

55.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 MGA 2,906

$0.82 MGA 3,647

-20.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 MGA 2,674

$0.58 MGA 2,564

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 MGA 2,492

$0.95 MGA 4,242

-41.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 MGA 1,438

$0.33 MGA 1,453

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MGA 2,230

$0.72 MGA 3,222

-30.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MGA 7,942

$1.64 MGA 7,292

9.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 MGA 23.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 MGA 4,119

$1.05 MGA 4,669

-11.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 5,023

$1.88 MGA 8,370

-39.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MGA 1,584

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 MGA 15.6K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 MGA 8,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.67 MGA 20.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,310

$0.86 MGA 3,838

38.37%

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

$12.3K MGA 54.7M

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

$26.1K MGA 115.8M

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

$76.2 MGA 338.6K

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

$32.37 MGA 143.9K

$17.10 MGA 76.0K

89.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 MGA 306.3K

$57.5 MGA 255.8K

19.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 MGA 99.5K

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MGA 31.3K

$5.74 MGA 25.5K

22.65%

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

$25.50 MGA 113.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K MGA 66.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.17 MGA 40.8K

$29.10 MGA 129.4K

-68.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.92 MGA 30.8K

$27.59 MGA 122.7K

-74.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 MGA 250.6K

$79.6 MGA 353.9K

-29.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.00 MGA 168.9K

$70.1 MGA 311.8K

-45.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$137 MGA 607.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 MGA 253.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 MGA 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 MGA 600.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$136 MGA 602.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

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

Last update for Toamasina: October 4, 2026

Last update for Ambatolampy: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $16.00 in Toamasina vs $10.00 in Ambatolampy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $144 per month, with Ambatolampy cheaper across the board.

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

Toamasina vs Ambatolampy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toamasina wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Ambatolampy. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Toamasina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $693 in Toamasina and $714 in Ambatolampy to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $462 per month in Toamasina versus $476 in Ambatolampy – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Ambatolampy pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Toamasina gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Toamasina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ambatolampy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.