🙂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 – Toamasina68% lower, Antananarivo57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59MGA 10.8K
$3.34MGA 14.0K
-22.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.25MGA 63.9K
$18.75MGA 78.6K
-18.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.37MGA 18.3K
$4.81MGA 20.1K
-9.15%
Cappuccino
$1.16MGA 4,865
$1.29MGA 5,423
-10.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MGA 2,875
$1.06MGA 4,431
-34.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MGA 2,887
$0.59MGA 2,493
16.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.75MGA 3,139
$0.75MGA 3,136
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MGA 4,727
$1.57MGA 6,582
-28.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98MGA 4,094
$1.12MGA 4,709
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.64MGA 2,696
$1.09MGA 4,566
-41.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70MGA 2,933
$0.74MGA 3,112
-5.41%
Eggs
$1.85MGA 7,745
$2.07MGA 8,662
-10.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51MGA 44.1K
$10.33MGA 43.3K
1.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.57MGA 27.6K
$4.55MGA 19.1K
44.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.98MGA 20.9K
$4.42MGA 18.5K
12.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46MGA 6,139
$1.31MGA 5,509
11.45%
Banana(1kg)
$0.87MGA 3,640
$0.59MGA 2,492
47.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35MGA 5,673
$1.08MGA 4,515
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76MGA 3,204
$1.00MGA 4,188
-24.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48MGA 2,004
$0.73MGA 3,060
-34.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69MGA 2,909
$1.00MGA 4,212
-31.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35MGA 1,449
$0.34MGA 1,437
2.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50MGA 2,111
$0.69MGA 2,904
-27.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79MGA 7,505
$2.61MGA 10.9K
-31.42%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.49MGA 23.0K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91MGA 3,815
$0.82MGA 3,437
10.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MGA 4,741
$1.28MGA 5,346
-11.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MGA 1,440
$0.12MGA 491
183.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.92MGA 12.2K
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.71MGA 7,157
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.39MGA 18.4K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07MGA 4,503
$1.23MGA 5,147
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$12.0KMGA 50.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.0KMGA 100.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$58.5MGA 245.4K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.12MGA 80.2K
$15.69MGA 65.8K
21.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.6MGA 279.1K
$47.42MGA 198.8K
40.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.91MGA 91.9K
$36.55MGA 153.2K
-40.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34MGA 26.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.86MGA 28.8K
$6.78MGA 28.4K
1.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$72.2MGA 302.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.6KMGA 48.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.98MGA 37.7K
$30.63MGA 128.4K
-70.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.47MGA 27.1K
$29.63MGA 124.2K
-78.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.7MGA 229.4K
$77.8MGA 326.3K
-29.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.94MGA 154.9K
$76.3MGA 320.0K
-51.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$135MGA 566.0K
$382MGA 1.6M
-64.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$55.7MGA 233.6K
$77.8MGA 326.0K
-28.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$453MGA 1.9M
$584MGA 2.4M
-22.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MGA 558.1K
$436MGA 1.8M
-69.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$699MGA 2.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$587MGA 2.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toamasina
Antananarivo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$143MGA 599.1K
$122MGA 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.