For one person, living is cheaper in Madagascar: $615 a month against $2,080 in Germany, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Madagascar and in Germany
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 Germany actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $615 in Madagascar versus $2,080 in Germany.
Madagascar $615
Germany $2,080
Estimated couple costs with rent: $959 in Madagascar versus $3,130 in Germany.
Madagascar $959
Germany $3,130
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,303 in Madagascar versus $4,180 in Germany.
Madagascar $1,303
Germany $4,180
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Germany: monthly costs span $1,337 to $2,681, compared to $174–$645 in Madagascar. City choice carries more weight in Germany.
🌍
Living in Madagascar costs about 70% less than in Germany on average.
📊
Madagascar (55% below) and Germany (53% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14MGA 9,816
$16.60€14.81
-87.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.92MGA 82.0K
$71.8€64.1
-75.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70MGA 21.5K
$12.12€10.82
-61.22%
Cappuccino
$1.31MGA 6,013
$3.96€3.53
-66.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75MGA 3,412
$3.36€3.00
-77.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MGA 2,645
$2.89€2.58
-79.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08MGA 4,955
$5.07€4.52
-78.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MGA 8,178
$4.50€4.02
-60.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14MGA 5,215
$1.26€1.13
-9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MGA 4,580
$2.20€1.96
-54.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75MGA 3,443
$3.54€3.16
-78.81%
Eggs
$1.97MGA 9,032
$3.88€3.47
-49.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.41MGA 38.5K
$14.24€12.70
-40.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83MGA 22.1K
$11.90€10.62
-59.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.70MGA 21.5K
$20.68€18.45
-77.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04MGA 4,768
$3.28€2.93
-68.29%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62MGA 2,820
$2.05€1.83
-69.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92MGA 4,226
$2.31€2.06
-60.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MGA 3,927
$4.29€3.82
-79.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59MGA 2,686
$1.53€1.37
-61.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MGA 3,474
$1.50€1.33
-49.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36MGA 1,630
$1.64€1.46
-78.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MGA 2,790
$1.02€0.91
-40.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52MGA 6,979
$9.69€8.64
-84.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.03MGA 23.0K
$6.01€5.36
-16.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87MGA 3,983
$1.12€1.00
-22.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59MGA 7,258
$1.56€1.40
1.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.12MGA 530
$3.85€3.43
-96.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.30MGA 79.2K
$69.7€62.2
-75.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22MGA 14.7K
$5.34€4.76
-39.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26MGA 10.4K
$2.81€2.50
-19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46MGA 20.4K
$38.83€34.65
-88.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14MGA 5,195
$2.13€1.90
-46.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1KMGA 55.6M
$32.6K€29.0K
-62.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KMGA 110.4M
$37.7K€33.7K
-36.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.6MGA 295.4K
$342€305
-81.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45MGA 79.9K
$24.87€22.19
-29.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5MGA 240.1K
$48.49€43.26
8.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.01MGA 105.3K
$39.42€35.17
-41.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.14MGA 32.7K
$27.47€24.51
-74.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22MGA 28.5K
$14.65€13.07
-57.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.46MGA 116.5K
$611€545
-95.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KMGA 67.7M
$17.3K€15.4K
-14.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.33MGA 93.0K
$89.1€79.5
-77.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.07MGA 114.7K
$42.07€37.53
-40.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2MGA 307.3K
$98.3€87.7
-31.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.30MGA 211.9K
$131€117
-64.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294MGA 1.3M
$934€834
-68.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138MGA 629.5K
$718€641
-80.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681MGA 3.1M
$1,704€1,520
-60.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314MGA 1.4M
$1,294€1,154
-75.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$658MGA 3.0M
$5,944€5,303
-88.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$560MGA 2.6M
$3,958€3,531
-85.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
Germany
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$122MGA 557.7K
$3,290€2,935
-96.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.75
3.96
398.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madagascar: October 26, 2026
Last update for Germany: October 25, 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%
Germany
$335 16.1% ↑ 136%$193
🏠Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
$138 22.4%
Germany
$718 34.6% ↑ 422%$581
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
$134 21.9%
Germany
$415 20% ↑ 209%$281
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
$71 11.6%
Germany
$162 7.8% ↑ 127%$91
🍽Eating Out
Madagascar
$61 10%
Germany
$276 13.3% ↑ 350%$215
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
$35 5.8%
Germany
$69 3.3% ↑ 93.9%$33
🚌Getting Around
Madagascar
$32 5.3%
Germany
$104 5% ↑ 224%$72
🛒Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
$329 25.2%
Germany
$795 19% ↑ 142%$466
🏠Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
$314 24.1%
Germany
$1.3K 31% ↑ 312%$980
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
$152 11.7%
Germany
$440 10.5% ↑ 190%$288
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
$159 12.2%
Germany
$360 8.6% ↑ 127%$201
🍽Eating Out
Madagascar
$207 15.9%
Germany
$910 21.8% ↑ 340%$703
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
$78 6%
Germany
$165 4% ↑ 111%$87
🚌Getting Around
Madagascar
$65 5%
Germany
$217 5.2% ↑ 234%$152
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $260 in Madagascar, $812 in Germany. Capital cities: $323 in Antananarivo vs $1,407 in Berlin.
💰National salary averages: $126 in Madagascar, $3,107 in Germany. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 212% higher in Germany.
⭐Dining out costs 344% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 94% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are about 25 times higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Germany.
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 Germany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Madagascar?
At $2,080 per month in Germany and $615 in Madagascar, Madagascar comes out about 70% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Germany or Madagascar?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Madagascar: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Germany and Madagascar?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $812 in Germany and $260 in Madagascar. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Madagascar?
It depends on what you’re after: Madagascar wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
Madagascar vs other spots: cost of living compared