Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and Canada

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.

Madagascar
Canada
🇲🇬 Madagascar
$615
/mo nomad
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,310
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Madagascar and in Canada

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Madagascar and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $615 per month in Madagascar vs $2,310 in Canada, rent included.

  • Madagascar $615
  • Canada $2,310

A couple spends around $959 per month in Madagascar vs $3,356 in Canada, rent included.

  • Madagascar $959
  • Canada $3,356

A family of three spends $1,303 per month in Madagascar vs $4,403 in Canada, rent included.

  • Madagascar $1,303
  • Canada $4,403

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 Madagascar is roughly 73% lower than in Canada on average.

Madagascar sits 55% below the global median, while Canada is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 MGA 9,816
$18.16 CA$25.38
-88.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.92 MGA 82.0K
$71.2 CA$99.5
-74.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.70 MGA 21.5K
$10.81 CA$15.11
-56.52%
Cappuccino
$1.31 MGA 6,013
$3.78 CA$5.28
-65.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 MGA 3,412
$2.11 CA$2.95
-64.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MGA 2,645
$1.66 CA$2.32
-65.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 MGA 4,955
$5.62 CA$7.85
-80.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 MGA 8,178
$5.72 CA$7.99
-68.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 MGA 5,215
$2.17 CA$3.04
-47.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 MGA 4,580
$2.60 CA$3.64
-61.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 MGA 3,443
$3.65 CA$5.10
-79.45%
Eggs
$1.97 MGA 9,032
$3.63 CA$5.07
-45.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.41 MGA 38.5K
$10.76 CA$15.04
-21.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.83 MGA 22.1K
$11.90 CA$16.62
-59.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.70 MGA 21.5K
$15.42 CA$21.55
-69.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 MGA 4,768
$4.03 CA$5.63
-74.19%
Banana (1kg)
$0.62 MGA 2,820
$1.38 CA$1.93
-55.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 MGA 4,226
$3.88 CA$5.41
-76.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.86 MGA 3,927
$4.08 CA$5.70
-78.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 MGA 2,686
$2.57 CA$3.59
-77.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MGA 3,474
$2.48 CA$3.46
-69.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 MGA 1,630
$2.65 CA$3.70
-86.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MGA 2,790
$1.71 CA$2.40
-64.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52 MGA 6,979
$14.32 CA$20.01
-89.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.03 MGA 23.0K
$13.49 CA$18.84
-62.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 MGA 3,983
$2.84 CA$3.97
-69.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 MGA 7,258
$3.30 CA$4.61
-51.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 MGA 530
$2.55 CA$3.57
-95.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.30 MGA 79.2K
$71.9 CA$100
-75.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 MGA 14.7K
$3.18 CA$4.44
1.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 MGA 10.4K
$1.54 CA$2.15
46.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 MGA 20.4K
$26.69 CA$37.29
-83.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 MGA 5,195
$1.24 CA$1.74
-8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K MGA 55.6M
$27.9K CA$38.9K
-56.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K MGA 110.4M
$21.1K CA$29.4K
14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.6 MGA 295.4K
$147 CA$206
-56.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45 MGA 79.9K
$41.80 CA$58.4
-58.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5 MGA 240.1K
$60.2 CA$84.1
-12.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.01 MGA 105.3K
$39.01 CA$54.5
-41.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.14 MGA 32.7K
$19.06 CA$26.63
-62.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 MGA 28.5K
$11.21 CA$15.66
-44.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$25.46 MGA 116.5K
$721 CA$1,007
-96.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K MGA 67.7M
$14.8K CA$20.7K
-0.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.33 MGA 93.0K
$55.3 CA$77.2
-63.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.07 MGA 114.7K
$38.95 CA$54.4
-35.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.2 MGA 307.3K
$87.4 CA$122
-23.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.30 MGA 211.9K
$101 CA$142
-54.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$294 MGA 1.3M
$1,290 CA$1,803
-77.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 MGA 629.5K
$1,130 CA$1,579
-87.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 MGA 3.1M
$2,036 CA$2,845
-66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 MGA 1.4M
$1,731 CA$2,418
-81.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$658 MGA 3.0M
$4,769 CA$6,663
-86.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$560 MGA 2.6M
$3,730 CA$5,211
-84.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$122 MGA 557.7K
$3,070 CA$4,289
-96.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.75
4.87
305.54%

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

Last update for Madagascar: October 26, 2026

Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
$142
Canada
$371 161% $229
Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
$138
Canada
$1.1K 722% $992
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
$134
Canada
$249 85.5% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
$71
Canada
$127 78.1% $56
Eating Out
Madagascar
$61
Canada
$278 353% $216
Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
$35
Canada
$61 73.3% $26
Getting Around
Madagascar
$32
Canada
$93 188% $61

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $260 in Madagascar vs $1,250 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $323 in Antananarivo and $1,434 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $126 in Madagascar vs $2,968 in Canada. 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.

Good to know
🇲🇬 Madagascar
🇨🇦 Canada
🕒 Local time
10:19 10:19 AM
02:19 2:19 AM
8 h behind Madagascar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
25,570,895
36,991,981
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MGA – Malagasy Ariary Converter

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4,577 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD). 1 EUR = 5,110 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Madagascar Canada 14,060 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Madagascar
  • 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
Madagascar vs Canada: 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.

Madagascar vs other spots: cost of living compared

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