Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $195 in Madagascar versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $336 in Madagascar versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $476 in Madagascar versus $846 in India.

Living in Madagascar costs about 50% less than in India on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Madagascar 85% lower, India 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 MGA 11.5K
$2.49 ₹237
10.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.59 MGA 73.8K
$14.20 ₹1,353
23.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.35 MGA 18.2K
$3.98 ₹379
9.30%
Cappuccino
$1.28 MGA 5,377
$1.88 ₹179
-31.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MGA 3,762
$0.44 ₹41.98
104.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 MGA 2,617
$0.19 ₹18.57
226.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 MGA 4,285
$2.02 ₹192
-49.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 MGA 6,429
$3.45 ₹329
-55.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 MGA 4,667
$0.72 ₹68.3
54.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 MGA 4,103
$0.52 ₹49.26
88.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 MGA 2,994
$0.72 ₹68.7
-1.39%
Eggs
$2.00 MGA 8,368
$0.93 ₹88.8
115.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.82 MGA 41.2K
$5.24 ₹499
87.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 MGA 20.0K
$3.07 ₹292
55.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.21 MGA 17.6K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 MGA 4,898
$2.17 ₹207
-46.08%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 MGA 2,650
$0.76 ₹72.2
-17.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 MGA 4,280
$1.05 ₹100
-2.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MGA 3,704
$0.53 ₹50.7
66.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 MGA 2,238
$0.39 ₹37.53
35.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MGA 3,163
$0.49 ₹46.81
53.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,462
$0.52 ₹49.35
-32.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MGA 2,662
$0.33 ₹31.13
90.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76 MGA 7,373
$4.05 ₹386
-56.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.46 MGA 22.9K
$7.39 ₹704
-26.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 MGA 3,509
$1.84 ₹175
-54.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MGA 5,366
$2.90 ₹277
-55.86%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 MGA 622
$0.36 ₹34.59
-58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.08 MGA 38.1K
$9.74 ₹928
-6.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 MGA 9,429
$0.95 ₹90.6
136.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 MGA 8,535
$0.30 ₹28.64
580.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.55 MGA 19.1K
$1.73 ₹165
163.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MGA 5,346
$1.23 ₹117
4.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.6K MGA 56.9M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
-2.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MGA 98.5M
$22.6K ₹2.2M
3.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.66 MGA 195.6K
$40.88 ₹3,894
14.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.15 MGA 63.5K
$3.91 ₹372
287.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 MGA 216.0K
$7.81 ₹744
559.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.18 MGA 93.0K
$16.15 ₹1,538
37.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 MGA 26.6K
$7.49 ₹713
-15.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 MGA 28.1K
$3.42 ₹326
95.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 MGA 299.2K
$69.9 ₹6,660
2.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K MGA 48.3M
$1,793 ₹170.8K
543.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.60 MGA 111.5K
$25.83 ₹2,460
2.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.46 MGA 115.1K
$26.61 ₹2,535
3.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 MGA 301.2K
$45.24 ₹4,309
58.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4 MGA 219.8K
$33.68 ₹3,208
55.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 MGA 1.3M
$178 ₹17.0K
69.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$101 MGA 421.5K
$115 ₹10.9K
-12.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 MGA 2.2M
$407 ₹38.8K
31.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 MGA 1.5M
$264 ₹25.1K
39.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$686 MGA 2.9M
$1,240 ₹118.1K
-44.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$589 MGA 2.5M
$631 ₹60.1K
-6.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$130 MGA 544.8K
$432 ₹41.2K
-69.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.25
9.02
91.24%

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

Last update for Madagascar: June 2, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $71.0 in Madagascar, $127 in India. Capital cities: $382 in Antananarivo vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $130 in Madagascar, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 79% higher in India.

Dining out costs 57% more in India.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 206% higher in India, giving India stronger purchasing power.

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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Madagascar?
At $576 per month in India and $286 in Madagascar, there's a 102% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Madagascar is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in India beats Madagascar across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $800 a realistic budget in India or Madagascar?
In Madagascar, $800 covers most cities easily. In India, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Madagascar?
It depends on what you're after. Madagascar wins on affordability; India may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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