For one person, living is cheaper in Madagascar: $615 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Canada and in Madagascar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,310 per month in Canada vs $615 in Madagascar, rent included.
Canada $2,310
Madagascar $615
A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Canada vs $959 in Madagascar, rent included.
Canada $3,356
Madagascar $959
A family of three spends $4,403 per month in Canada vs $1,303 in Madagascar, rent included.
Canada $4,403
Madagascar $1,303
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in Madagascar ($174–$645), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Canada is about 276% higher than in Madagascar on average.
📊
Canada sits 70% above the global median, while Madagascar is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16CA$25.39
$2.14MGA 9,816
748.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2CA$99.5
$17.92MGA 82.0K
297.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81CA$15.11
$4.70MGA 21.5K
130.00%
Cappuccino
$3.78CA$5.28
$1.31MGA 6,013
188.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11CA$2.96
$0.75MGA 3,412
181.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66CA$2.32
$0.58MGA 2,645
186.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62CA$7.85
$1.08MGA 4,955
420.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CA$8.00
$1.79MGA 8,178
219.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CA$3.04
$1.14MGA 5,215
90.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60CA$3.64
$1.00MGA 4,580
160.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.11
$0.75MGA 3,443
386.67%
Eggs
$3.63CA$5.07
$1.97MGA 9,032
84.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76CA$15.04
$8.41MGA 38.5K
27.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.90CA$16.63
$4.83MGA 22.1K
146.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.42CA$21.56
$4.70MGA 21.5K
228.09%
Apples(1kg)
$4.03CA$5.63
$1.04MGA 4,768
287.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38CA$1.94
$0.62MGA 2,820
122.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88CA$5.42
$0.92MGA 4,226
321.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08CA$5.71
$0.86MGA 3,927
374.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.57CA$3.59
$0.59MGA 2,686
335.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.48CA$3.46
$0.76MGA 3,474
226.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65CA$3.70
$0.36MGA 1,630
636.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.40
$0.61MGA 2,790
180.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32CA$20.01
$1.52MGA 6,979
842.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.49CA$18.85
$5.03MGA 23.0K
168.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84CA$3.97
$0.87MGA 3,983
226.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30CA$4.62
$1.59MGA 7,258
107.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55CA$3.57
$0.12MGA 530
2025.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.9CA$101
$17.30MGA 79.2K
315.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18CA$4.44
$3.22MGA 14.7K
-1.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54CA$2.15
$2.26MGA 10.4K
-31.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.69CA$37.30
$4.46MGA 20.4K
498.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CA$1.74
$1.14MGA 5,195
8.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KCA$39.0K
$12.1KMGA 55.6M
129.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.4K
$24.1KMGA 110.4M
-12.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147CA$206
$64.6MGA 295.4K
128.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.80CA$58.4
$17.45MGA 79.9K
139.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2CA$84.2
$52.5MGA 240.1K
14.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.01CA$54.5
$23.01MGA 105.3K
69.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06CA$26.64
$7.14MGA 32.7K
166.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21CA$15.67
$6.22MGA 28.5K
80.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721CA$1,008
$25.46MGA 116.5K
2732.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KCA$20.7K
$14.8KMGA 67.7M
0.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3CA$77.3
$20.33MGA 93.0K
171.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95CA$54.4
$25.07MGA 114.7K
55.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4CA$122
$67.2MGA 307.3K
30.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$142
$46.30MGA 211.9K
118.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,290CA$1,804
$294MGA 1.3M
338.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,130CA$1,579
$138MGA 629.5K
721.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,036CA$2,846
$681MGA 3.1M
198.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,731CA$2,419
$314MGA 1.4M
451.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,769CA$6,665
$658MGA 3.0M
624.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,730CA$5,213
$560MGA 2.6M
565.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,070CA$4,290
$122MGA 557.7K
2419.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
19.75
-75.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026
Last update for Madagascar: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.1K 48.9%
Madagascar
$138 22.4% ↓ 87.8%$992
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$371 16.1%
Madagascar
$142 23.1% ↓ 61.7%$229
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$278 12%
Madagascar
$61 10% ↓ 77.9%$216
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$249 10.8%
Madagascar
$134 21.9% ↓ 46.1%$115
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127 5.5%
Madagascar
$71 11.6% ↓ 43.9%$56
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$93 4%
Madagascar
$32 5.3% ↓ 65.3%$61
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$61 2.7%
Madagascar
$35 5.8% ↓ 42.3%$26
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.7K 39.3%
Madagascar
$314 24.1% ↓ 81.9%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$847 19.2%
Madagascar
$329 25.2% ↓ 61.2%$518
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$918 20.9%
Madagascar
$207 15.9% ↓ 77.5%$711
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$291 6.6%
Madagascar
$152 11.7% ↓ 47.8%$139
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$283 6.4%
Madagascar
$159 12.2% ↓ 43.9%$124
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$191 4.3%
Madagascar
$65 5% ↓ 66.1%$126
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$142 3.2%
Madagascar
$78 6% ↓ 45%$64
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,250 in Canada vs $260 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,434 in Ottawa and $323 in Antananarivo.
💰Average salary: $2,968 in Canada vs $126 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 381% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 300% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 89% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are about 24 times higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Canada vs Madagascar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Madagascar?
Madagascar is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 73% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $260 in Madagascar.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Madagascar – part of why living there is about 73% cheaper overall.
Should I move to Canada or to Madagascar?
Madagascar is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.