Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Mahajanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Mahajanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $471 per month in Toamasina vs $572 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $762 per month in Toamasina vs $848 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,053 per month in Toamasina vs $1,124 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Toamasina is about 18% cheaper than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Toamasina and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Toamasina 66% lower, Mahajanga 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 MGA 9,655

$2.04 MGA 8,832

9.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.56 MGA 71.8K

$18.71 MGA 81.1K

-11.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 MGA 19.7K

Cappuccino

$1.17 MGA 5,090

$0.73 MGA 3,167

60.27%

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

$0.78 MGA 3,364

$0.97 MGA 4,207

-19.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MGA 2,412

$0.91 MGA 3,936

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 MGA 4,493

$1.06 MGA 4,613

-1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 MGA 5,915

$1.59 MGA 6,911

-13.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 MGA 4,419

$1.40 MGA 6,070

-27.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MGA 3,116

$0.84 MGA 3,655

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 MGA 4,189

$0.62 MGA 2,681

56.45%

Eggs

$1.96 MGA 8,503

$2.26 MGA 9,775

-13.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 MGA 54.4K

$6.88 MGA 29.8K

82.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.16 MGA 31.0K

$6.85 MGA 29.7K

4.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 MGA 23.6K

$3.77 MGA 16.3K

44.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 MGA 7,133

$1.19 MGA 5,155

38.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MGA 6,070

$0.67 MGA 2,904

108.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 MGA 7,241

$0.72 MGA 3,109

131.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,977

$0.67 MGA 2,883

2.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 MGA 2,846

$0.53 MGA 2,301

24.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,307

$0.57 MGA 2,451

-7.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 MGA 1,582

$0.34 MGA 1,469

8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MGA 2,080

$0.56 MGA 2,430

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 MGA 8,111

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 MGA 39.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MGA 3,881

$0.84 MGA 3,640

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 4,912

$0.95 MGA 4,120

18.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 MGA 1,451

$0.23 MGA 992

43.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 MGA 5,203

$1.38 MGA 5,975

-13.04%

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

$46.01 MGA 199.4K

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

$33.45 MGA 144.9K

$7.17 MGA 31.1K

366.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 MGA 305.4K

$23.57 MGA 102.1K

199.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.18 MGA 100.4K

$18.43 MGA 79.9K

25.77%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 MGA 30.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.27 MGA 40.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.11 MGA 30.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 MGA 250.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.47 MGA 171.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 MGA 605.4K

$347 MGA 1.5M

-59.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.3 MGA 248.2K

$276 MGA 1.2M

-79.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MGA 2.0M

$705 MGA 3.1M

-33.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 MGA 608.0K

$464 MGA 2.0M

-69.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$139 MGA 603.2K

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

Last update for Toamasina: September 8, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Toamasina versus $347 in Mahajanga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Toamasina versus $19.00 in Mahajanga. Groceries tell a different story – $163 in Toamasina vs $152 in Mahajanga – so Mahajanga 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 Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahajanga costs about 21% more than Toamasina, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $706 per month in Toamasina and $857 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $471 in Toamasina and $572 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Mahajanga – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $471 in Toamasina and $572 in Mahajanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Toamasina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mahajanga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.