Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Madagascar Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Madagascar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $846 per month in Brazil vs $313 in Madagascar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,346 per month in Brazil vs $491 in Madagascar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,845 per month in Brazil vs $668 in Madagascar, rent included.

The cost of living in Brazil is about 170% higher than in Madagascar on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and Madagascar are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 39% lower, Madagascar 77% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47 R$33.16
$2.24 MGA 9,725
188.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.65 R$173
$17.49 MGA 75.8K
92.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 R$40.59
$4.78 MGA 20.7K
65.69%
Cappuccino
$2.07 R$10.61
$1.36 MGA 5,892
52.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 R$6.48
$0.81 MGA 3,497
55.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 R$3.77
$0.65 MGA 2,836
13.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 R$9.86
$1.14 MGA 4,931
68.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 R$15.09
$1.78 MGA 7,720
65.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 R$5.52
$1.18 MGA 5,108
-8.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 R$8.92
$0.98 MGA 4,257
77.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.69
$0.77 MGA 3,339
68.83%
Eggs
$2.23 R$11.42
$2.13 MGA 9,249
4.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 R$46.94
$8.84 MGA 38.3K
3.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.33 R$22.22
$5.25 MGA 22.7K
-17.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.46 R$43.35
$4.83 MGA 20.9K
75.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 R$11.37
$1.21 MGA 5,250
83.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 R$6.81
$0.67 MGA 2,894
98.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.16
$0.99 MGA 4,307
21.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 R$7.78
$0.90 MGA 3,880
68.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.13
$0.57 MGA 2,463
108.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.47
$0.79 MGA 3,425
35.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 R$4.30
$0.34 MGA 1,493
147.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 R$4.09
$0.65 MGA 2,807
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39 R$12.27
$1.68 MGA 7,263
42.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.62 R$39.06
$5.12 MGA 22.2K
48.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$6.98
$0.92 MGA 3,991
47.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 R$11.89
$1.65 MGA 7,153
40.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 R$5.23
$0.14 MGA 603
628.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.47 R$228
$19.02 MGA 82.4K
133.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 R$6.66
$3.59 MGA 15.5K
-63.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 R$4.83
$2.40 MGA 10.4K
-60.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 R$41.15
$4.76 MGA 20.6K
68.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 R$6.39
$1.19 MGA 5,141
5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K R$117.7K
$13.2K MGA 57.1M
74.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K R$161.8K
$24.9K MGA 107.8M
26.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.0 R$415
$68.5 MGA 296.6K
18.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.79 R$65.6
$17.99 MGA 77.9K
-28.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.82 R$107
$56.1 MGA 242.9K
-62.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.51 R$131
$24.07 MGA 104.3K
5.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17 R$134
$7.56 MGA 32.7K
246.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 R$35.81
$6.46 MGA 28.0K
8.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$337 R$1,725
$26.47 MGA 114.7K
1171.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,862 R$45.4K
$15.5K MGA 67.1M
-42.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 R$272
$21.11 MGA 91.5K
151.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.80 R$250
$27.23 MGA 118.0K
79.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 R$454
$72.2 MGA 312.6K
22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.5 R$351
$49.68 MGA 215.3K
37.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 R$1,933
$308 MGA 1.3M
22.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$244 R$1,250
$144 MGA 621.8K
69.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 R$3,713
$722 MGA 3.1M
0.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 R$2,445
$342 MGA 1.5M
39.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,846 R$9,462
$699 MGA 3.0M
164.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,262 R$6,469
$598 MGA 2.6M
111.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 R$2,686
$131 MGA 567.7K
299.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
19.75
-43.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brazil: September 7, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $341 in Brazil vs $63.0 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $479 in Brasilia and $333 in Antananarivo.

Average salary: $487 in Brazil vs $132 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 441% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 200% more in Brazil.

Public transport is 1200% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 269% higher in Brazil, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brazil.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Brazil vs Madagascar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Madagascar compare in cost of living?
Madagascar is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 198% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Madagascar?
Housing costs more in Brazil, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Brazil consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Madagascar?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Madagascar, contributing to the overall 198% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $800 go in Brazil compared to Madagascar?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Madagascar, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Madagascar?
Madagascar is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Brazil vs other spots: cost of living compared

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