Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Moshi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Moshi or Antananarivo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi 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: Moshi or Antananarivo?
Moshi
Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.
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 Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $71Antananarivo $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $71, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $72. 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 Moshi and Antananarivo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $37Antananarivo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $74Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Antananarivo
Looking for a hotel in Moshi 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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Antananarivo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $17Antananarivo $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi : $49
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi/Arusha: $53
- Airport transfer to Arusha/Moshi: $55
- Transfer Services: Kilimanjaro Airport (jro) Moshi, & Arusha: $60
- Private Transfer from Moshi to Arusha: $250
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:
- Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Antananarivo?
Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Moshi 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 dayMoshi $20Antananarivo $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi
For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dee's Private Cooking Class in Tanzania: $50
- Private Traditional Cooking Class. : $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.
- Street food and Cooking class tour in Antananarivo: $163
- Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moshi $19Antananarivo $24
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided City tour of Moshi: $20
- Town tour and Local Markets tour: $27
- Private guided tour to the night lifestyle of Moshi town: $30
- Materuni: Coffee Plantation Tour: $40
- Day Tour Around Moshi Tanzania: $50
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $55
- Chemka Hot Springs Tour from Moshi: $59
- Moshi Materuni Waterfalls, Chemka Hot Springs, & Coffee Tour: $60
- Private Materuni Waterfall & Coffee Tour. : $61
- MATERUNI WATERFALLS AND COFFEE TOUR: $64
- Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour with Lunch: $65
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: $684
- Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
- Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $24
- Day - Tour Ampefy: $144
- From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear: $1,978
- Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $201
- Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
- Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
- Madagascar Adventures on Tana, West, East, North, and South: $2,550
- Madagascar: Andasibe and Nosy Be Tour in one week: $2,240
- Private Ambohimanga and Ironwork Shop Tour from Antananarivo: $86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.45Antananarivo $9.65
When comparing the travel costs between Moshi 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 Moshi Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Antananarivo?
Antananarivo has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi 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.