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Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Madagascar and South Africa

🙂 Solo nomad: Madagascar is 31.4% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 49.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Madagascar is 36.1% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 42% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68 MGA 12.4K
$8.84 R 145
-69.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.42 MGA 80.5K
$38.50 R 631
-54.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.57 MGA 21.1K
$5.07 R 83.2
-9.86%
Cappuccino
$1.27 MGA 5,884
$2.04 R 33.40
-37.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MGA 4,073
$1.04 R 17.02
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 MGA 2,879
$0.74 R 12.08
-16.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 MGA 4,967
$2.31 R 37.83
-53.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 MGA 7,348
$2.47 R 40.57
-35.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 MGA 4,900
$1.07 R 17.55
-0.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 MGA 4,232
$1.01 R 16.51
-8.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 MGA 3,322
$1.57 R 25.79
-54.14%
Eggs
$2.09 MGA 9,652
$2.33 R 38.26
-10.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 MGA 46.0K
$7.68 R 126
29.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.76 MGA 22.0K
$4.47 R 73.4
6.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.23 MGA 19.5K
$6.60 R 108
-35.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 MGA 5,397
$1.56 R 25.55
-25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 MGA 3,001
$1.45 R 23.80
-55.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 MGA 4,690
$1.51 R 24.79
-32.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MGA 4,067
$1.49 R 24.39
-40.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 MGA 2,647
$1.21 R 19.91
-52.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MGA 3,469
$1.33 R 21.80
-43.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 MGA 1,732
$1.08 R 17.70
-65.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MGA 2,935
$0.94 R 15.34
-31.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79 MGA 8,287
$2.85 R 46.74
-37.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.84 MGA 22.4K
$4.89 R 80.3
-1.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 MGA 4,049
$1.38 R 22.64
-36.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MGA 5,674
$1.69 R 27.65
-27.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 MGA 751
$1.73 R 28.33
-90.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.79 MGA 40.6K
$45.33 R 743
-80.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 MGA 10.4K
$1.10 R 18.01
105.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 MGA 9,489
$1.10 R 18.03
86.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.49 MGA 20.7K
$4.69 R 76.9
-4.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 MGA 5,677
$1.30 R 21.32
-5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.2K MGA 61.2M
$20.6K R 337.3K
-35.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K MGA 105.2M
$24.2K R 396.4K
-5.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.91 MGA 212.1K
$110 R 1,811
-58.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90 MGA 68.8K
$32.07 R 526
-53.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 MGA 242.8K
$40.81 R 669
28.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.26 MGA 102.9K
$31.33 R 514
-28.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.28 MGA 29.0K
$9.44 R 155
-33.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68 MGA 30.9K
$6.90 R 113
-3.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 MGA 329.9K
$187 R 3,074
-61.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K MGA 52.9M
$4,385 R 71.9K
161.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.05 MGA 125.0K
$49.70 R 815
-45.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.17 MGA 125.5K
$31.23 R 512
-13.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.4 MGA 339.0K
$93.0 R 1,526
-21.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.1 MGA 236.0K
$79.7 R 1,307
-35.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$296 MGA 1.4M
$443 R 7,265
-33.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.3 MGA 458.9K
$369 R 6,048
-73.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 MGA 2.5M
$890 R 14.6K
-39.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 MGA 1.7M
$724 R 11.9K
-48.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$674 MGA 3.1M
$1,125 R 18.5K
-40.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$580 MGA 2.7M
$823 R 13.5K
-29.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$112 MGA 518.0K
$1,486 R 24.4K
-92.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.25
11.55
49.35%

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

Last update for Madagascar: January 12, 2026

Last update for South Africa: January 12, 2026

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