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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $471 per month in Toamasina vs $671 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $762 per month in Toamasina vs $1,036 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,053 per month in Toamasina vs $1,402 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Toamasina is about 30% cheaper than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Toamasina and Antananarivo are more affordable than the global median – Toamasina 66% lower, Antananarivo 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23 MGA 9,655
$2.75 MGA 11.9K
-18.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.56 MGA 71.8K
$20.88 MGA 90.5K
-20.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 MGA 19.7K
$5.68 MGA 24.6K
-19.72%
Cappuccino
$1.17 MGA 5,090
$1.74 MGA 7,525
-32.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MGA 3,364
$0.84 MGA 3,622
-7.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MGA 2,412
$0.47 MGA 2,035
19.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 MGA 4,493
$1.07 MGA 4,641
-2.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MGA 5,915
$2.33 MGA 10.1K
-41.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 MGA 4,419
$0.99 MGA 4,296
3.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 MGA 3,116
$1.03 MGA 4,463
-30.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 MGA 4,189
$0.78 MGA 3,390
24.36%
Eggs
$1.96 MGA 8,503
$2.18 MGA 9,433
-10.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 MGA 54.4K
$8.62 MGA 37.4K
45.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.16 MGA 31.0K
$4.65 MGA 20.1K
53.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.44 MGA 23.6K
$5.00 MGA 21.7K
8.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.65 MGA 7,133
$1.15 MGA 4,989
43.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 MGA 6,070
$0.56 MGA 2,445
150.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 MGA 7,241
$1.04 MGA 4,527
60.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 MGA 2,977
$0.87 MGA 3,748
-20.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 MGA 2,846
$0.62 MGA 2,670
6.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 MGA 2,307
$1.03 MGA 4,463
-48.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 MGA 1,582
$0.37 MGA 1,589
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 MGA 2,080
$0.75 MGA 3,271
-36.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 MGA 8,111
$1.68 MGA 7,282
11.31%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.38 MGA 23.3K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 MGA 3,881
$1.07 MGA 4,654
-15.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MGA 4,912
$1.87 MGA 8,106
-39.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 MGA 1,451
$0.12 MGA 533
175.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.55 MGA 15.4K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.05 MGA 8,861
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.62 MGA 20.0K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 MGA 5,203
$1.16 MGA 5,013
3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$12.4K MGA 53.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.4K MGA 114.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$76.0 MGA 329.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.45 MGA 144.9K
$17.50 MGA 75.8K
91.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 MGA 305.4K
$59.0 MGA 255.4K
19.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.18 MGA 100.4K
$30.18 MGA 130.7K
-23.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.34 MGA 31.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.10 MGA 30.8K
$5.86 MGA 25.4K
21.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$26.31 MGA 114.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.5K MGA 67.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.27 MGA 40.2K
$30.37 MGA 131.6K
-69.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.11 MGA 30.8K
$28.70 MGA 124.3K
-75.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.9 MGA 250.8K
$78.6 MGA 340.5K
-26.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.47 MGA 171.0K
$73.4 MGA 318.0K
-46.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$140 MGA 605.4K
$333 MGA 1.4M
-58.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$57.3 MGA 248.2K
$158 MGA 686.7K
-63.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 MGA 2.0M
$752 MGA 3.3M
-37.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 MGA 608.0K
$330 MGA 1.4M
-57.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$679 MGA 2.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$596 MGA 2.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$139 MGA 603.2K
$137 MGA 595.3K
1.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
15.75
-

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

Last update for Toamasina: September 8, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Toamasina versus $333 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 1% 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 $17.00 in Toamasina versus $21.00 in Antananarivo. Groceries tell a different story – $163 in Toamasina vs $148 in Antananarivo – so Antananarivo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 42%, 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 $706 per month in Toamasina and $1,006 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 in Antananarivo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Antananarivo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Toamasina or in Antananarivo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Toamasina and $21.00 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 $471 in Toamasina and $671 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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