Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Antsiranana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Antsiranana or Antananarivo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antsiranana 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: Antsiranana or Antananarivo?
Antsiranana
Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.
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 Adventure Tours to Madagascar, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Madagascar.
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Antsiranana Prices
Madagascar PricesAntananarivo Prices
Madagascar Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntsiranana $120Antananarivo $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Antsiranana is $120, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $96. 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 Antsiranana and Antananarivo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntsiranana $45Antananarivo $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntsiranana $90Antananarivo $62
Compare Hotels in Antsiranana and Antananarivo
Looking for a hotel in Antsiranana 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.
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: Antsiranana Hotel Prices and Antananarivo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antsiranana $15Antananarivo $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:
- Safe Transfer Airport - Hotel in Antananarivo Madagascar: $24
- Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $80
- 24/7 Transfer from Ivato Airport to Antananarivo & more: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into Antsiranana or Antananarivo?
Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Antsiranana 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
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Food Meals for one dayAntsiranana $63Antananarivo $52
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antsiranana $19Antananarivo $25
Tours and Activities in Antsiranana
For Antsiranana, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: CITY TOUR: $65
- City Tour in TukTuk in shopping excursion and visit to the baobabs: $67
- Tuk-Tuk Tour with Ramena Beach and Lunch: $87
- Emerald Sea Tour for swim & lunch (Guided Tour): $104
- Red Tsingy and Lemurs: Day Trips for Cruise Ship Passengers in Antsiranana: $118
- MADAGASCAR STOP CRUISE: DIEGO SUAREZ CITY TOUR & RELAXATION AT THE BEACH: $127
- Baobab and Trois Baies Tour for Cruise Passengers: $141
- Red Tsingy Tour: Cruise Ship Experience on Diego Suarez: $150
- Amber Mountain and Red Tsingy Full-Day Tour: $232
- Day tour in Amber Mountain: $287
- Madagascar: 17-Day North & Northeast Guided Tour: $1,736
- Lemurs, Rainforest, and Nosy Be Tour: $1,800
Tours and Activities in Antananarivo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:
- 4 Days Adventure to wild Andasibe Mantasoa from Antananarivo: $926
- 6 Days Adventure to Andasibe & Tamatave from Antananarivo: $1,852
- 6-day Madagascar private tour: Local, Lemurs & Baobab Avenue: $1,867
- 9 Days Adventure from Antananarivo to Isalo Park & Tulear: $2,315
- Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $38
- Antananarivo : Day tour to Mantasoa Lake: $480
- Antananarivo Guided: Lemurs Park & City Tour: $300
- Antananarivo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $25
- 2-Day Andasibe Rainforest & Wildlife Tour: $850
- 2-Days tour to Andasibe National Park: $1,050
- 3-Day Andasibe Wildlife and Culture Tour: $950
- Full day Lemurs’ Park/Queen’s Palace/City Tour: $230
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntsiranana $10Antananarivo $9.95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antsiranana and Antananarivo, we can see that Antsiranana is more expensive. And not only is Antananarivo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antananarivo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antananarivo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Antsiranana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antsiranana than you might in Antananarivo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Antsiranana Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antsiranana or Antananarivo?
Antananarivo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Antsiranana. When comparing the sizes of Antsiranana 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.