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 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
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14MGA 9,816
$18.16CA$25.38
-88.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.92MGA 82.0K
$71.2CA$99.5
-74.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70MGA 21.5K
$10.81CA$15.11
-56.52%
Cappuccino
$1.31MGA 6,013
$3.78CA$5.28
-65.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75MGA 3,412
$2.11CA$2.95
-64.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MGA 2,645
$1.66CA$2.32
-65.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08MGA 4,955
$5.62CA$7.85
-80.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MGA 8,178
$5.72CA$7.99
-68.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14MGA 5,215
$2.17CA$3.04
-47.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MGA 4,580
$2.60CA$3.64
-61.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75MGA 3,443
$3.65CA$5.10
-79.45%
Eggs
$1.97MGA 9,032
$3.63CA$5.07
-45.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.41MGA 38.5K
$10.76CA$15.04
-21.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83MGA 22.1K
$11.90CA$16.62
-59.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.70MGA 21.5K
$15.42CA$21.55
-69.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04MGA 4,768
$4.03CA$5.63
-74.19%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62MGA 2,820
$1.38CA$1.93
-55.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92MGA 4,226
$3.88CA$5.41
-76.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MGA 3,927
$4.08CA$5.70
-78.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59MGA 2,686
$2.57CA$3.59
-77.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MGA 3,474
$2.48CA$3.46
-69.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36MGA 1,630
$2.65CA$3.70
-86.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MGA 2,790
$1.71CA$2.40
-64.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52MGA 6,979
$14.32CA$20.01
-89.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.03MGA 23.0K
$13.49CA$18.84
-62.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87MGA 3,983
$2.84CA$3.97
-69.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59MGA 7,258
$3.30CA$4.61
-51.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.12MGA 530
$2.55CA$3.57
-95.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.30MGA 79.2K
$71.9CA$100
-75.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22MGA 14.7K
$3.18CA$4.44
1.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26MGA 10.4K
$1.54CA$2.15
46.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46MGA 20.4K
$26.69CA$37.29
-83.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14MGA 5,195
$1.24CA$1.74
-8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1KMGA 55.6M
$27.9KCA$38.9K
-56.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KMGA 110.4M
$21.1KCA$29.4K
14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.6MGA 295.4K
$147CA$206
-56.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45MGA 79.9K
$41.80CA$58.4
-58.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5MGA 240.1K
$60.2CA$84.1
-12.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.01MGA 105.3K
$39.01CA$54.5
-41.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.14MGA 32.7K
$19.06CA$26.63
-62.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22MGA 28.5K
$11.21CA$15.66
-44.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.46MGA 116.5K
$721CA$1,007
-96.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KMGA 67.7M
$14.8KCA$20.7K
-0.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.33MGA 93.0K
$55.3CA$77.2
-63.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.07MGA 114.7K
$38.95CA$54.4
-35.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2MGA 307.3K
$87.4CA$122
-23.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.30MGA 211.9K
$101CA$142
-54.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294MGA 1.3M
$1,290CA$1,803
-77.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138MGA 629.5K
$1,130CA$1,579
-87.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681MGA 3.1M
$2,036CA$2,845
-66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314MGA 1.4M
$1,731CA$2,418
-81.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$658MGA 3.0M
$4,769CA$6,663
-86.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$560MGA 2.6M
$3,730CA$5,211
-84.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$122MGA 557.7K
$3,070CA$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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
$142 23.1%
Canada
$371 16.1% ↑ 161%$229
🏠Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
$138 22.4%
Canada
$1.1K 48.9% ↑ 722%$992
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
$134 21.9%
Canada
$249 10.8% ↑ 85.5%$115
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
$71 11.6%
Canada
$127 5.5% ↑ 78.1%$56
🍽Eating Out
Madagascar
$61 10%
Canada
$278 12% ↑ 353%$216
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
$35 5.8%
Canada
$61 2.7% ↑ 73.3%$26
🚌Getting Around
Madagascar
$32 5.3%
Canada
$93 4% ↑ 188%$61
🛒Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
$329 25.2%
Canada
$847 19.2% ↑ 158%$518
🏠Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
$314 24.1%
Canada
$1.7K 39.3% ↑ 451%$1.4K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
$152 11.7%
Canada
$291 6.6% ↑ 91.7%$139
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
$159 12.2%
Canada
$283 6.4% ↑ 78.1%$124
🍽Eating Out
Madagascar
$207 15.9%
Canada
$918 20.9% ↑ 344%$711
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
$78 6%
Canada
$142 3.2% ↑ 81.9%$64
🚌Getting Around
Madagascar
$65 5%
Canada
$191 4.3% ↑ 195%$126
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.
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