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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $436 per month in Toamasina vs $387 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $696 per month in Toamasina vs $720 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $957 per month in Toamasina vs $1,052 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Toamasina costs about 12% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Toamasina and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Toamasina 67% lower, Mahajanga 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 MGA 11.1K

$2.02 MGA 8,677

28.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.45 MGA 66.3K

$18.10 MGA 77.6K

-14.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 MGA 19.5K

Cappuccino

$1.16 MGA 4,982

$0.68 MGA 2,931

70.59%

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

$0.67 MGA 2,887

$0.92 MGA 3,962

-27.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 MGA 3,191

$0.88 MGA 3,773

-15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.77 MGA 3,285

$1.03 MGA 4,398

-25.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 MGA 4,703

$1.58 MGA 6,790

-30.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 MGA 4,261

$1.08 MGA 4,636

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MGA 2,933

$0.59 MGA 2,522

15.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 MGA 2,758

$0.57 MGA 2,437

12.28%

Eggs

$1.91 MGA 8,186

$1.91 MGA 8,212

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 MGA 46.2K

$6.76 MGA 29.0K

59.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 MGA 28.3K

$5.21 MGA 22.3K

26.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 MGA 21.8K

$3.30 MGA 14.1K

54.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 MGA 6,129

$0.97 MGA 4,173

47.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 MGA 3,445

$0.59 MGA 2,515

35.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 MGA 5,659

$0.77 MGA 3,301

71.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,289

$0.51 MGA 2,178

50.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 MGA 2,082

$0.50 MGA 2,152

-2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,977

$0.48 MGA 2,038

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 MGA 1,486

$0.43 MGA 1,845

-18.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MGA 2,119

$0.64 MGA 2,734

-23.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 MGA 7,699

$1.09 MGA 4,658

65.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.35 MGA 40.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 MGA 3,838

$0.82 MGA 3,527

8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MGA 4,836

$0.98 MGA 4,204

15.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 MGA 1,355

$0.15 MGA 639

113.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.05 MGA 38.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 MGA 4,811

$1.14 MGA 4,878

-1.75%

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

$43.84 MGA 188.0K

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

$19.19 MGA 82.3K

$6.78 MGA 29.1K

183.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 MGA 283.5K

$22.52 MGA 96.6K

193.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.00 MGA 94.3K

$17.61 MGA 75.5K

24.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 MGA 29.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.67 MGA 37.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.81 MGA 29.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 MGA 242.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.59 MGA 156.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$132 MGA 566.9K

$339 MGA 1.5M

-61.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.6 MGA 242.6K

$111 MGA 475.1K

-48.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$442 MGA 1.9M

$664 MGA 2.8M

-33.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MGA 570.3K

$452 MGA 1.9M

-70.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 MGA 603.7K

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

Last update for Toamasina: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $132 in Toamasina versus $339 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 $133 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 12% 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 $653 per month in Toamasina and $581 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 $436 in Toamasina and $387 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $436 in Toamasina and $387 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.