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

Should you visit Bucharest or Antananarivo?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Antananarivo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Bucharest or Antananarivo?

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Bucharest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $175, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $87. 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 Bucharest and Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bucharest $61
    Antananarivo $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bucharest $122
    Antananarivo $56
Compare Hotels in Bucharest and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Bucharest 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 Bucharest


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: Bucharest Hotel Prices and Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bucharest $25
    Antananarivo $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:

  • Express Roundtrip Transfer to Therme Bucuresti: $8.68
  • Therme Bucharest Express Shuttle Transfer: $15
  • Bucharest Private Airport Transfer from or to City Center Hotel: $21
  • Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tecuci: $22
  • Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Barlad: $24
  • Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Vaslui OMV: $26
  • Transfer from Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport to Bucharest or Back: $26
  • Bucharest Private Airport Transfer: $26
  • Bucharest Otopeni Airport OTP to Bucharest City Center Hotel - private transfer: $26
  • Private Bucharest Otopeni Airport transfers: $27
  • Transfer from Otopeni Airport to Bucharest: $28
  • Daimler Exclusive Trips And Transfers: $29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Cheap Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in Antananarivo: $16
  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $93
  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Bucharest 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
    Bucharest $98
    Antananarivo $47

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest

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

  • Dinner &tour at Museum of Communism after closing: $49
  • Dinner at the Museum of Communism & tour after closing: $51
  • 5 Premium Wine Tasting with Delightful Dinner,incl Sommelier: $71
  • Bucharest Historical Food Tour in Old Center: $79
  • Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $79
  • Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $82
  • Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours: $83
  • Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $92
  • Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $124
  • 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $195

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.
    Bucharest $14
    Antananarivo $22

Tours and Activities in Bucharest

Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Bucharest Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.20
  • Bucharest 1989 Revolution Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.08
  • Bucharest 1989 Revolution Walking Tour with Smartphone App: $6.19
  • Entry ticket at the Museum of Communism: $8.37
  • Museum of Senses Entry Ticket: $8.84
  • Museum of Communism Ticket with Communist Coffee: $9.29
  • Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $10
  • Ghost Hunt Quest Experience: $11
  • Life in Communist Quest Experience: $11
  • Alternative Bucharest Walking Tour: $11
  • Peles Castle, Bran Castle, & Brasov Old Town Tour: $14
  • Bucharest Old Centre Tour: $15

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $23
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $34
  • Guided Tour and sunset in queen's palace: $61
  • Private Tour Through the Wildlife of Madagascar and the Kingdom of Rova: $132
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $139
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • 4-Hours Night Tour of Antananarivo: $159
  • Antananarivo : Day tour to Mantasoa Lake: $180
  • From Road trip Day tour to Ampefy Village: $193
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $196

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bucharest $8.93
    Antananarivo $9.01

Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest

Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Weekend Pub Crawl: $23
  • Romanian Wine Tasting Experience at Corks: $31
  • Bachelor Party Custom Bar Crawl: $36
  • Bucharest Guided Pub Crawl: $37
  • Bar Crawling: $42
  • Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $45
  • Private Wine Tasting Experience: $54
  • Pub Crawling in Style to the Most Fancy Bars, Drinks Incl.: $57
  • Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $58
  • Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $82
  • Wine Tasting and Cheese Platter, Along with Expert Sommelier: $87
  • From Romanian Wine Tasting Tour: $87


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Antananarivo, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Antananarivo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest is in Europe and Antananarivo is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest 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 Bucharest Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Antananarivo?

Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest 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.