A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Antananarivo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Antananarivo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Antananarivo?

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Ethiopia, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Addis Ababa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $68, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $71. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $44
    Antananarivo $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $88
    Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Antananarivo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Addis Ababa


Hotels in Antananarivo


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $7.91
    Antananarivo $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $19
  • Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $20
  • City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Addis Ababa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Addis Ababa $18
    Antananarivo $29
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
  • Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show: $77
  • Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $120
  • Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
  • Half Day + Dinner Addis Ababa City Tour: $150
  • Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis with transfers: $154
  • Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
  • Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $243

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $8.16
    Antananarivo $24

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • Addis Ababa highlights of the city tour: $53
  • Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
  • Addis Ababa highlight city tour: $56
  • Guided: Addis Ababa City Tour: $58
  • Full Day Tour of Addis Ababa With Hotel PickUp And Drop-off: $58
  • Guided City Tour: $59
  • Addis Food Tasting Tour : $59
  • Addis Ababa city Tour: $60
  • Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
  • Museums tour of Addis Ababa with coffee tasting: $62
  • Addis Ababa Bole Airport Culinary and Walking Tour : $62
  • Guided City Tour / Addis Ababa Guided City Tour: $63

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:

  • 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $869
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Antananarivo’s Hidden Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $502
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $24
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $147
  • From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear!: $1,710
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $204
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
  • Private Ambohimanga and Ironwork Shop Tour from Antananarivo: $87
  • Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Antananarivo: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $6.74
    Antananarivo $9.61

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:

  • Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
  • The Pub Crawl Royale: A Battle of the Best Drinks: $65
  • Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $69


When comparing the travel costs between Addis Ababa and Antananarivo, we can see that Antananarivo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Antananarivo?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Antananarivo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.