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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Toamasina vs $377 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $694 per month in Toamasina vs $709 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $960 per month in Toamasina vs $1,041 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Toamasina costs about 14% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Toamasina and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Toamasina 68% lower, Mahajanga 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 MGA 10.8K

$1.97 MGA 8,249

31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.25 MGA 63.9K

$17.84 MGA 74.8K

-14.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.37 MGA 18.3K

Cappuccino

$1.16 MGA 4,865

$0.69 MGA 2,880

68.12%

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

$0.69 MGA 2,875

$0.86 MGA 3,595

-19.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 MGA 2,887

$0.87 MGA 3,666

-20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 MGA 3,139

$1.02 MGA 4,294

-26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 4,727

$1.57 MGA 6,586

-28.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 MGA 4,094

$1.05 MGA 4,390

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 MGA 2,696

$0.60 MGA 2,496

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 2,933

$0.61 MGA 2,552

14.75%

Eggs

$1.85 MGA 7,745

$1.91 MGA 8,023

-3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 MGA 44.1K

$6.52 MGA 27.3K

61.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 MGA 27.6K

$5.31 MGA 22.3K

23.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 MGA 20.9K

$3.32 MGA 13.9K

50.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 MGA 6,139

$0.91 MGA 3,825

60.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 MGA 3,640

$0.57 MGA 2,404

52.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 MGA 5,673

$0.76 MGA 3,188

77.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,204

$0.50 MGA 2,100

52.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 MGA 2,004

$0.50 MGA 2,092

-4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,909

$0.45 MGA 1,885

53.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 MGA 1,449

$0.40 MGA 1,675

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MGA 2,111

$0.58 MGA 2,444

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MGA 7,505

$1.13 MGA 4,725

58.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 MGA 39.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 MGA 3,815

$0.79 MGA 3,298

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 4,741

$1.03 MGA 4,309

9.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MGA 1,440

$0.13 MGA 526

161.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.07 MGA 38.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 MGA 4,503

$1.09 MGA 4,578

-1.83%

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

$43.80 MGA 183.6K

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

$19.12 MGA 80.2K

$6.62 MGA 27.7K

188.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.6 MGA 279.1K

$22.07 MGA 92.5K

201.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.91 MGA 91.9K

$18.06 MGA 75.7K

21.32%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 MGA 28.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.98 MGA 37.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.47 MGA 27.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 MGA 229.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.94 MGA 154.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 MGA 566.0K

$334 MGA 1.4M

-59.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$55.7 MGA 233.6K

$109 MGA 457.5K

-48.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 MGA 1.9M

$667 MGA 2.8M

-32.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MGA 558.1K

$445 MGA 1.9M

-70.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$143 MGA 599.1K

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

Last update for Toamasina: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $135 in Toamasina versus $334 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 $15.00 in Toamasina versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Groceries tell a different story – $145 in Toamasina vs $132 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

Toamasina costs about 14% more than Mahajanga, 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 $644 per month in Toamasina and $566 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahajanga, 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 $429 in Toamasina and $377 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Toamasina, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Toamasina and $377 in Mahajanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahajanga – 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 Mahajanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toamasina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.