Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Antananarivo Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Antananarivo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Toamasina vs $571 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $694 per month in Toamasina vs $1,045 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $960 per month in Toamasina vs $1,519 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Toamasina is about 25% cheaper than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Toamasina and Antananarivo are more affordable than the global median – Toamasina 68% lower, Antananarivo 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59 MGA 10.8K
$3.34 MGA 14.0K
-22.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.25 MGA 63.9K
$18.75 MGA 78.6K
-18.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.37 MGA 18.3K
$4.81 MGA 20.1K
-9.15%
Cappuccino
$1.16 MGA 4,865
$1.29 MGA 5,423
-10.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MGA 2,875
$1.06 MGA 4,431
-34.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MGA 2,887
$0.59 MGA 2,493
16.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.75 MGA 3,139
$0.75 MGA 3,136
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MGA 4,727
$1.57 MGA 6,582
-28.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 MGA 4,094
$1.12 MGA 4,709
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 MGA 2,696
$1.09 MGA 4,566
-41.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 MGA 2,933
$0.74 MGA 3,112
-5.41%
Eggs
$1.85 MGA 7,745
$2.07 MGA 8,662
-10.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 MGA 44.1K
$10.33 MGA 43.3K
1.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.57 MGA 27.6K
$4.55 MGA 19.1K
44.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.98 MGA 20.9K
$4.42 MGA 18.5K
12.67%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 MGA 6,139
$1.31 MGA 5,509
11.45%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 MGA 3,640
$0.59 MGA 2,492
47.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 MGA 5,673
$1.08 MGA 4,515
25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 MGA 3,204
$1.00 MGA 4,188
-24.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 MGA 2,004
$0.73 MGA 3,060
-34.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 MGA 2,909
$1.00 MGA 4,212
-31.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,449
$0.34 MGA 1,437
2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 MGA 2,111
$0.69 MGA 2,904
-27.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79 MGA 7,505
$2.61 MGA 10.9K
-31.42%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.49 MGA 23.0K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 MGA 3,815
$0.82 MGA 3,437
10.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MGA 4,741
$1.28 MGA 5,346
-11.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MGA 1,440
$0.12 MGA 491
183.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.92 MGA 12.2K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.71 MGA 7,157
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.39 MGA 18.4K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 MGA 4,503
$1.23 MGA 5,147
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$12.0K MGA 50.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.0K MGA 100.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$58.5 MGA 245.4K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.12 MGA 80.2K
$15.69 MGA 65.8K
21.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.6 MGA 279.1K
$47.42 MGA 198.8K
40.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.91 MGA 91.9K
$36.55 MGA 153.2K
-40.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34 MGA 26.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.86 MGA 28.8K
$6.78 MGA 28.4K
1.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$72.2 MGA 302.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.6K MGA 48.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.98 MGA 37.7K
$30.63 MGA 128.4K
-70.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.47 MGA 27.1K
$29.63 MGA 124.2K
-78.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.7 MGA 229.4K
$77.8 MGA 326.3K
-29.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.94 MGA 154.9K
$76.3 MGA 320.0K
-51.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$135 MGA 566.0K
$382 MGA 1.6M
-64.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$55.7 MGA 233.6K
$77.8 MGA 326.0K
-28.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 MGA 1.9M
$584 MGA 2.4M
-22.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 MGA 558.1K
$436 MGA 1.8M
-69.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$699 MGA 2.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$587 MGA 2.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$143 MGA 599.1K
$122 MGA 509.7K
17.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
15
-

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

Last update for Toamasina: May 30, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $135 in Toamasina 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 18% higher in Toamasina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Toamasina versus $19.00 in Antananarivo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $151 – making Toamasina 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
Toamasina vs Antananarivo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antananarivo cheaper than Toamasina?
Yes – Antananarivo is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Toamasina and $857 in Antananarivo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Toamasina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Toamasina and Antananarivo?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Antananarivo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Toamasina or Antananarivo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Toamasina and $19.00 in Antananarivo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,200 enough for either Toamasina or Antananarivo?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Toamasina and $571 in Antananarivo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Toamasina or Antananarivo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toamasina – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Toamasina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antananarivo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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