Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $195 in Madagascar versus $1,717 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $336 in Madagascar versus $2,624 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $476 in Madagascar versus $3,530 in Italy.

Living in Madagascar costs about 89% less than in Italy on average.

Madagascar (85% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 MGA 11.5K
$17.44 €15.00
-84.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.59 MGA 73.8K
$79.5 €68.4
-77.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.35 MGA 18.2K
$11.76 €10.11
-63.01%
Cappuccino
$1.28 MGA 5,377
$2.00 €1.72
-36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MGA 3,762
$3.00 €2.58
-70.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 MGA 2,617
$1.35 €1.16
-54.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 MGA 4,285
$5.94 €5.11
-82.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 MGA 6,429
$5.36 €4.61
-71.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 MGA 4,667
$1.64 €1.41
-32.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 MGA 4,103
$2.41 €2.07
-59.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 MGA 2,994
$2.99 €2.58
-76.25%
Eggs
$2.00 MGA 8,368
$3.96 €3.41
-49.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.82 MGA 41.2K
$16.84 €14.49
-41.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 MGA 20.0K
$12.43 €10.69
-61.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.21 MGA 17.6K
$20.29 €17.46
-79.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 MGA 4,898
$2.47 €2.13
-52.63%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 MGA 2,650
$2.15 €1.85
-70.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 MGA 4,280
$2.65 €2.28
-61.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MGA 3,704
$3.40 €2.92
-74.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 MGA 2,238
$1.92 €1.65
-72.40%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MGA 3,163
$1.81 €1.56
-58.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,462
$1.55 €1.33
-77.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MGA 2,662
$0.54 €0.46
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76 MGA 7,373
$6.79 €5.84
-74.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.46 MGA 22.9K
$7.18 €6.18
-23.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 MGA 3,509
$1.80 €1.55
-53.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MGA 5,366
$2.42 €2.08
-47.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 MGA 622
$2.00 €1.72
-92.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.08 MGA 38.1K
$42.35 €36.43
-78.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 MGA 9,429
$5.94 €5.11
-62.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 MGA 8,535
$1.51 €1.30
35.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.55 MGA 19.1K
$34.04 €29.28
-86.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MGA 5,346
$2.05 €1.76
-37.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.6K MGA 56.9M
$32.8K €28.2K
-58.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MGA 98.5M
$33.7K €29.0K
-30.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.66 MGA 195.6K
$225 €194
-79.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.15 MGA 63.5K
$13.25 €11.40
14.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 MGA 216.0K
$30.95 €26.62
66.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.18 MGA 93.0K
$55.7 €47.95
-60.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 MGA 26.6K
$25.15 €21.63
-74.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 MGA 28.1K
$10.25 €8.82
-34.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 MGA 299.2K
$576 €495
-87.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K MGA 48.3M
$10.5K €8,998
10.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.60 MGA 111.5K
$91.8 €79.0
-71.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.46 MGA 115.1K
$40.72 €35.03
-32.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 MGA 301.2K
$98.0 €84.3
-26.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4 MGA 219.8K
$131 €112
-59.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 MGA 1.3M
$860 €740
-64.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$101 MGA 421.5K
$667 €573
-84.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 MGA 2.2M
$1,475 €1,269
-63.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 MGA 1.5M
$1,087 €935
-66.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$686 MGA 2.9M
$3,850 €3,312
-82.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$589 MGA 2.5M
$2,359 €2,029
-75.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$130 MGA 544.8K
$1,933 €1,663
-93.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.25
4.41
291.16%

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

Last update for Madagascar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $71.0 in Madagascar, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $382 in Antananarivo vs $1,325 in Rome.

National salary averages: $130 in Madagascar, $1,949 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 946% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 957% more in Italy.

Public transport is 2100% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 1399% higher in Italy, giving Italy 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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Madagascar?
At $1,839 per month in Italy and $286 in Madagascar, there's a 544% 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 Italy 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 Italy or Madagascar?
In Madagascar, $800 covers most cities easily. In Italy, 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 Italy or Madagascar?
It depends on what you're after. Madagascar wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Madagascar vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries