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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $436 per month in Toamasina vs $579 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $696 per month in Toamasina vs $1,036 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $957 per month in Toamasina vs $1,493 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 67% lower, Antananarivo 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59 MGA 11.1K
$3.32 MGA 14.2K
-21.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.45 MGA 66.3K
$18.84 MGA 80.8K
-17.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.54 MGA 19.5K
$4.95 MGA 21.2K
-8.28%
Cappuccino
$1.16 MGA 4,982
$1.29 MGA 5,534
-10.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 MGA 2,887
$1.05 MGA 4,501
-36.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MGA 3,191
$0.60 MGA 2,577
23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.77 MGA 3,285
$0.80 MGA 3,428
-3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 MGA 4,703
$1.60 MGA 6,850
-31.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 MGA 4,261
$1.12 MGA 4,799
-11.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 MGA 2,933
$1.09 MGA 4,675
-37.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 MGA 2,758
$0.77 MGA 3,297
-16.88%
Eggs
$1.91 MGA 8,186
$1.98 MGA 8,472
-3.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.77 MGA 46.2K
$10.33 MGA 44.3K
4.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.59 MGA 28.3K
$4.69 MGA 20.1K
40.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.09 MGA 21.8K
$4.49 MGA 19.3K
13.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.43 MGA 6,129
$1.35 MGA 5,788
5.93%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 MGA 3,445
$0.60 MGA 2,556
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 MGA 5,659
$1.07 MGA 4,608
23.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.77 MGA 3,289
$1.04 MGA 4,450
-25.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 MGA 2,082
$0.73 MGA 3,128
-32.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 MGA 2,977
$0.99 MGA 4,239
-30.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,486
$0.35 MGA 1,488
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MGA 2,119
$0.70 MGA 3,008
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80 MGA 7,699
$2.60 MGA 11.1K
-30.77%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.06 MGA 21.7K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 MGA 3,838
$0.87 MGA 3,739
2.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MGA 4,836
$1.21 MGA 5,205
-6.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 MGA 1,355
$0.12 MGA 514
166.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.93 MGA 12.6K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.65 MGA 7,089
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.49 MGA 19.2K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 MGA 4,811
$1.22 MGA 5,249
-8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$12.1K MGA 51.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.1K MGA 103.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$58.0 MGA 248.8K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.19 MGA 82.3K
$15.65 MGA 67.1K
22.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1 MGA 283.5K
$46.19 MGA 198.1K
43.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.00 MGA 94.3K
$35.71 MGA 153.1K
-38.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.41 MGA 27.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 MGA 29.1K
$6.54 MGA 28.1K
3.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$71.1 MGA 305.1K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.7K MGA 50.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.67 MGA 37.2K
$31.34 MGA 134.4K
-72.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.81 MGA 29.2K
$30.26 MGA 129.8K
-77.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.4 MGA 242.0K
$77.1 MGA 330.8K
-26.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.59 MGA 156.9K
$75.9 MGA 325.5K
-51.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$132 MGA 566.9K
$387 MGA 1.7M
-65.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$56.6 MGA 242.6K
$78.8 MGA 337.9K
-28.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 MGA 1.9M
$575 MGA 2.5M
-23.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 MGA 570.3K
$439 MGA 1.9M
-69.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$688 MGA 3.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$574 MGA 2.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$141 MGA 603.7K
$122 MGA 522.4K
15.56%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $132 in Toamasina versus $387 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 16% 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 $152 – 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 $653 per month in Toamasina and $869 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?
Groceries cost about 4% 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 in 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 $436 in Toamasina and $579 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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