Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toamasina and Mahajanga

For one person, living is cheaper in Toamasina: $466 a month against $538 in Mahajanga, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Mahajanga outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Jump to prices

Toamasina

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$466

/mo nomad

Mahajanga

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$538

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toamasina and in Mahajanga

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Toamasina and in Mahajanga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $466 per month in Toamasina vs $538 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Toamasina $466
Mahajanga $538

A couple spends around $753 per month in Toamasina vs $792 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Toamasina $753
Mahajanga $792

A family of three spends $1,040 per month in Toamasina vs $1,045 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Toamasina $1,040
Mahajanga $1,045

Toamasina is about 14% cheaper than Mahajanga.

Both Toamasina and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Toamasina 66% lower, Mahajanga 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 MGA 12.4K

$2.02 MGA 9,260

34.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.39 MGA 70.6K

$17.69 MGA 81.2K

-13.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 MGA 20.0K

Cappuccino

$1.13 MGA 5,188

$0.64 MGA 2,933

76.56%

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

$0.57 MGA 2,620

$0.90 MGA 4,117

-36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 MGA 3,859

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MGA 5,228

$0.97 MGA 4,442

17.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 MGA 4,938

$1.57 MGA 7,214

-31.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 MGA 4,897

$1.34 MGA 6,142

-20.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MGA 5,194

$0.81 MGA 3,735

39.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MGA 4,662

$0.60 MGA 2,746

70.00%

Eggs

$1.82 MGA 8,368

$2.06 MGA 9,468

-11.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 MGA 58.0K

$6.55 MGA 30.0K

92.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.87 MGA 36.1K

$6.55 MGA 30.0K

20.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 MGA 28.8K

$3.46 MGA 15.9K

81.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MGA 6,974

$1.07 MGA 4,909

42.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 MGA 6,235

$0.63 MGA 2,872

115.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 MGA 7,201

$0.68 MGA 3,117

130.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 MGA 2,885

$0.68 MGA 3,141

-7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 MGA 2,807

$0.52 MGA 2,371

17.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,530

$0.54 MGA 2,469

1.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 MGA 1,586

$0.32 MGA 1,454

9.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 MGA 2,107

$0.57 MGA 2,604

-19.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 MGA 7,807

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 MGA 40.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 MGA 3,811

$0.76 MGA 3,470

9.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MGA 5,099

$0.90 MGA 4,138

23.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 MGA 1,446

$0.24 MGA 1,106

33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 5,204

$1.33 MGA 6,124

-15.04%

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

$43.81 MGA 201.0K

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

$30.75 MGA 141.0K

$6.56 MGA 30.1K

368.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 MGA 302.7K

$21.87 MGA 100.3K

201.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.32 MGA 102.4K

$17.71 MGA 81.2K

26.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 MGA 30.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.88 MGA 40.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.79 MGA 31.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 MGA 248.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.55 MGA 167.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 MGA 610.3K

$325 MGA 1.5M

-59.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.8 MGA 251.2K

$265 MGA 1.2M

-79.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$442 MGA 2.0M

$661 MGA 3.0M

-33.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$131 MGA 602.9K

$436 MGA 2.0M

-69.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$134 MGA 614.1K

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

Last update for Toamasina: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: October 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $133 in Toamasina versus $325 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 in Toamasina versus $18 in Mahajanga. Groceries tell a different story – $171 in Toamasina vs $144 in Mahajanga – so Mahajanga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇲🇬 Toamasina

🇲🇬 Mahajanga

🕒 Local time

09:13 9:13 AM

Same time as Toamasina

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

325,857

246,022

💱 Currency

Malagasy Ariary MGA Ar

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR

10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Toamasina Mahajanga 430 km

From you

Toamasina
Mahajanga

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $698 per month in Toamasina and $808 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $133 there versus $325 in Mahajanga.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $466 in Toamasina and $538 in Mahajanga. That’s a gap of about 16%.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% 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 $466 in Toamasina and $538 in Mahajanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Mahajanga has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $466 in Toamasina to $538 in Mahajanga. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.