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Antananarivo vs Nairobi

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Antananarivo 17% cheaper Antananarivo +18 Mbps Low / Moderate
Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Sitraka Mamy Tantely Andriamialijaona/Unsplash
Nairobi
Nairobi
Amani Nation/Unsplash
Nomad Cost

$1,366

Antananarivo

$1,639

Nairobi

Internet

33

Mbps

15

Mbps

Safety

Low

Antananarivo

Moderate

Nairobi

Air Quality

5/5

Antananarivo

5/5

Nairobi

Healthcare

High

Antananarivo

High

Nairobi

Population

1.3m

Antananarivo

3.1m

Nairobi

Antananarivo (Madagascar) and Nairobi (Kenya) are both in Africa, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

The cost difference is noticeable: Antananarivo at $1366/mo is 17% cheaper than Nairobi at $1639/mo, worth considering for extended stays.

For families, Antananarivo costs $1813.604133953397/mo compared to Nairobi's $1876.601222102749/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Remote workers will appreciate Antananarivo's 33 Mbps (global #153) — considerably faster than Nairobi's 15 Mbps (#178).

Quality of Life

Nairobi has a stronger safety profile than Antananarivo, which may be a deciding factor for solo travelers or families.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Antananarivo and Nairobi.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Antananarivo is September (around 25 degrees, 0mm rain, score 402), while Nairobi peaks in June (25 degrees, 0mm rain, score 433). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

AntananarivoNairobi
Nomad$1,366/mo$1,639/mo
Expat$954/mo$870/mo
Local$518/mo$536/mo
Family$1,814/mo$1,877/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

AntananarivoNairobi
City Speed
33 Mbps#153
15 Mbps#178
Country Speed29 Mbps14 Mbps

Environment & Health

AntananarivoNairobi
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionHighHigh
ClimateHighHigh
Humidity8176

Quality of Life

AntananarivoNairobi
SafetyLowModerate
HealthcareHighHigh

Monthly Weather Comparison

Antananarivo
Nairobi
Jan
30°
7mm192
27°
2mm371
Feb
29°
6mm238
29°
0mm420
Mar
28°
1mm330
29°
0mm418
Apr
28°
0mm378
28°
4mm269
May
22°
0mm382
27°
2mm351
Jun
21°
0mm382
25°
0mm433
Jul
22°
0mm382
25°
0mm430
Aug
21°
0mm382
24°
0mm418
Sep
25°
0mm402
27°
0mm420
Oct
27°
0mm402
27°
0mm409
Nov
31°
0mm402
26°
2mm423
Dec
30°
0mm400
26°
1mm351

Who Should Choose Antananarivo?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $1366
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1813.604133953397/mo for families
  • Peak season in September — 25 degrees, score 402

Who Should Choose Nairobi?

  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1876.601222102749/mo for families
  • Major city energy with 3.1m residents
  • Peak season in June — 25 degrees, score 433

Overall Verdict

For the typical digital nomad, Nairobi is the stronger pick. At $1639/mo it beats Antananarivo's $1366/mo by 17%, and the 15 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Antananarivo Nairobi
ItemAntananarivoNairobiDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$4.12$4.28
4%
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$20.62$32.61
37%
McMeal or equivalent combo$6.87$5.91
14%
Cappuccino (regular)$1.15$2.25
49%
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$1.15$2.04
44%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$1.6$2.85
44%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.84$0.54
36%
Water (0.33L)$0.5$0.45
10%
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)$0.98$0.96
2%
White bread (500g)$1.12$0.52
54%
White rice (1kg)$0.66$1.55
57%
Eggs (12)$1.9$1.39
27%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$5.73$5.88
3%
Beef round (1kg)$4.73$4.62
2%
Local cheese (1kg)$7.56$11.6
35%
Apples (1kg)$2$2.33
14%
Bananas (1kg)$0.57$0.91
37%
Oranges (1kg)$0.87$1.8
52%
Tomatoes (1kg)$0.82$0.95
14%
Potatoes (1kg)$0.53$0.91
42%
Onions (1kg)$0.89$0.98
9%
Lettuce (1 head)$0.22$0.63
65%
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.54$0.76
29%
Wine, mid-range bottle$8.02$11.41
30%
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$0.95$1.96
52%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$1.52$2.42
37%
Cigarettes (pack of 20)$5.27$2.45
54%
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket$0.14$0.82
83%
Monthly transport pass$2.61$32.61
92%
Taxi start (normal tariff)$1.15$2.24
49%
Taxi per 1km$1.15$1.11
3%
Taxi 1hr waiting$4.58$2.69
41%
Gasoline (1L)$1.03$1.18
13%
Volkswagen Golf (new)$18,613.97$16,714.23
10%
Toyota Corolla (new)$25,773.2$17,539.05
32%
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$44.9$28.18
37%
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$58.79$52.18
11%
Mobile prepaid per minute$0.05$0.03
40%
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly$54.41$47.67
12%
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$6.49$16.71
61%
Cinema, 1 ticket$6.87$6.52
5%
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo$202.37$164.71
19%
International primary school/yr$5,024.82$9,590.3
48%
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$35.13$17.25
51%
Summer dress (chain store)$25.2$24.38
3%
Nike running shoes (mid-range)$103.09$45.14
56%
Men's leather business shoes$68.73$43.87
36%
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre$431.46$414.88
4%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$200.46$183.21
9%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre$916.38$979.8
6%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$448.08$423.08
6%
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre$916.38$1,415.61
35%
Price per m², outside centre$458.19$613.08
25%
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary$142.04$455.52
69%
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$17.5$12.53
28%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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