Should you visit Addis Ababa or Antananarivo?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Antananarivo, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Which city 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 $69, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $66. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Antananarivo in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Addis Ababa can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $45, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $90.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Antananarivo is $54. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The price of a meal in Addis Ababa can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $18 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Antananarivo food costs typically run travelers around $27 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Addis Ababa $18
Antananarivo $27
Typical Food prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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:
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Traditional Ethiopian cooking class in Addis Ababa:
$61
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Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa:
$65
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Local Ethiopian Food Tour:
$75
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Local Ethiopian Food Tour:
$77
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Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show:
$77
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Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa:
$90
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HALF-DAY + dinner Addis Ababa:
$95
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HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Abeba city tour:
$97
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Ethiopian Unique Culinary Food Tours:
$98
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Local Ethiopian Food Tour:
$108
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Ethiopian Cooking Class and Food Tour, Addis Ababa and Lalibela:
$124
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Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis with transfers:
$129
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.
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Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour:
$205
Local Transportation
To get around in Addis Ababa, the average visitor spends $8.04 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The cost of a taxi ride in Antananarivo is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $13 per person, per day, on local transportation in Antananarivo.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa:
$32
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Private arrival and departure Transfer:
$45
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Bole International Airport to Addis Ababa City Transfer:
$51
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Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer:
$77
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Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa:
$124
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Private Transfer from Addis Ababa to Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD):
$124
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Private transfer: Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa Airport (ADD):
$622
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Private transfer: Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) to Addis Ababa:
$622
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:
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Private Madagascar Antananarivo Airport - Antananarivo City Round-Trip Transfer:
$105
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Private Departure Transfer: Madagascar Antananarivo City to Antananarivo Airport:
$53
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Private Arrival Transfer: Madagascar Antananarivo Airport to Antananarivo City:
$53
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.
Entertainment
In Addis Ababa, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $8.30 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Antananarivo typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
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Hiking to Yeka | Stopover Tour: 8687' , semi-monolithic rock-hewn church:
$31
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Arba Minch Walking Tour:
$32
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Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour:
$36
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Addis Ababa - Half Day City Tour:
$36
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Barok tour Ethiopia @aa:
$40
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Walking Tour of Addis Abeba - Discover Addis the Authentic way:
$41
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Addis Ababa City Tours:
$43
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Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa:
$47
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Historical Tour:
$50
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Addis Ababa City Tour:
$50
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Impress Addis City Tours:
$50
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City tour of Addis, Transit in Addis by car:
$51
Tours and Activities in Antananarivo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:
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11 Days Private Tour Masoala National Park from Antananarivo:
$4,375
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15-Day Tour of South and East Madagascar with Accommodation:
$2,090
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2-Day Private Tour to Mantasoa from Antananarivo:
$169
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2-Days Private Tour to Ampefy from Antananarivo:
$235
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20 Day Tour of Madagascar:
$2,563
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4 Day Adventure in Masoala National Park from Antananarivo:
$2,625
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Adventure Safari to Tsingy Bemaraha Park.:
$1,537
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Antalaha Day Tour of Antalaha and the Macolline Forest UNESCO Site:
$192
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Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$33
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Antananarivo Tour with Lemur Park and Ambohimanga Palace:
$149
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BLUE HILL: Full-Day Antananarivo Discovery Private Tour with Ambohimanga:
$100
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Diego Suarez Day Tour of Antsiranana the Amber Mountains and the 3 Emerald Bays:
$237
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Addis Ababa, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $6.86.
The average person spends about $8.91 on alcoholic beverages in Antananarivo per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Addis Ababa and Antananarivo, we can see that Addis Ababa 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.
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