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: $475 in Toamasina versus $492 in Ambatolampy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $756 in Toamasina versus $724 in Ambatolampy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,037 in Toamasina versus $956 in Ambatolampy.

Living in Toamasina costs roughly 4% less than in Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Toamasina 65% lower, Ambatolampy 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 MGA 9,622

$2.84 MGA 12.2K

-21.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.44 MGA 70.5K

$10.55 MGA 45.2K

55.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MGA 19.7K

$5.70 MGA 24.5K

-19.47%

Cappuccino

$1.13 MGA 4,863

$1.66 MGA 7,124

-31.93%

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

$0.74 MGA 3,173

$0.77 MGA 3,302

-3.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MGA 2,611

$0.43 MGA 1,844

41.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,367

$1.07 MGA 4,581

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 MGA 5,641

$2.28 MGA 9,787

-42.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 MGA 4,410

$0.84 MGA 3,619

22.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MGA 2,916

$1.04 MGA 4,444

-34.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 MGA 3,988

$0.77 MGA 3,325

20.78%

Eggs

$1.99 MGA 8,534

$2.10 MGA 9,011

-5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.46 MGA 53.4K

$8.55 MGA 36.7K

45.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 MGA 30.0K

$4.53 MGA 19.5K

54.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.41 MGA 23.2K

$5.11 MGA 21.9K

5.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 MGA 7,015

$1.10 MGA 4,706

48.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MGA 5,837

$0.60 MGA 2,590

126.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 MGA 7,091

$1.03 MGA 4,438

60.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,148

$0.85 MGA 3,641

-14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 MGA 2,607

$0.57 MGA 2,461

7.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,326

$0.96 MGA 4,111

-43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,448

$0.36 MGA 1,530

-5.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MGA 2,056

$0.74 MGA 3,186

-35.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 MGA 7,952

$1.64 MGA 7,047

12.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 MGA 21.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 MGA 3,721

$1.02 MGA 4,386

-14.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 MGA 5,106

$1.83 MGA 7,870

-34.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MGA 1,566

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 MGA 14.6K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 MGA 8,769

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 MGA 20.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 MGA 4,960

$0.89 MGA 3,823

30.34%

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

$12.4K MGA 53.4M

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

$26.0K MGA 111.6M

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

$77.1 MGA 330.9K

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

$33.18 MGA 142.4K

$17.25 MGA 74.0K

92.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 MGA 300.3K

$57.6 MGA 247.1K

21.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.44 MGA 100.6K

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 MGA 30.2K

$6.43 MGA 27.6K

9.33%

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

$25.97 MGA 111.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 65.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.24 MGA 39.6K

$29.54 MGA 126.8K

-68.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.84 MGA 29.4K

$28.65 MGA 122.9K

-76.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.9 MGA 244.1K

$81.1 MGA 347.9K

-29.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.25 MGA 168.4K

$72.9 MGA 312.9K

-46.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$141 MGA 605.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 MGA 244.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 MGA 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$137 MGA 586.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$137 MGA 586.8K

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ambatolampy: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $16.00 in Toamasina vs $11.00 in Ambatolampy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $161 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 4% 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 $712 in Toamasina and $738 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 $475 per month in Toamasina versus $492 in Ambatolampy – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Ambatolampy pay roughly 11% 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 4% less than in Ambatolampy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.