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

🙂 Solo nomad: Madagascar is 29.7% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 48.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Madagascar is 36.5% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 40.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73 MGA 11.3K
$8.71 R 142
-68.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.81 MGA 73.6K
$39.43 R 643
-54.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.52 MGA 18.7K
$5.16 R 84.1
-12.40%
Cappuccino
$1.28 MGA 5,276
$2.03 R 33.09
-36.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MGA 3,635
$1.03 R 16.83
-14.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MGA 2,748
$0.79 R 12.83
-16.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 MGA 4,281
$2.30 R 37.53
-54.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MGA 6,257
$2.55 R 41.59
-40.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 MGA 4,630
$1.11 R 18.16
0.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 MGA 4,057
$1.04 R 16.92
-5.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 MGA 2,779
$1.54 R 25.17
-56.49%
Eggs
$2.09 MGA 8,624
$2.24 R 36.56
-6.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 MGA 41.3K
$7.86 R 128
26.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.83 MGA 20.0K
$4.73 R 77.2
2.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.12 MGA 17.1K
$6.65 R 108
-38.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 MGA 4,923
$1.51 R 24.66
-21.19%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 MGA 2,614
$1.41 R 22.93
-55.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 MGA 4,163
$1.49 R 24.31
-32.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 MGA 3,847
$1.56 R 25.47
-40.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 MGA 2,369
$1.19 R 19.47
-52.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 MGA 3,248
$1.30 R 21.13
-39.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 MGA 1,421
$1.04 R 16.99
-67.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 MGA 2,502
$0.96 R 15.69
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83 MGA 7,565
$2.92 R 47.67
-37.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.39 MGA 22.3K
$4.80 R 78.3
12.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 MGA 3,456
$1.33 R 21.75
-36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 MGA 5,036
$1.72 R 28.08
-29.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 MGA 588
$1.70 R 27.72
-91.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.00 MGA 37.2K
$45.20 R 737
-80.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 MGA 8,922
$1.09 R 17.81
98.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 MGA 8,148
$1.05 R 17.13
87.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 MGA 18.4K
$4.73 R 77.1
-5.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 MGA 5,026
$1.29 R 21.10
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.4K MGA 55.2M
$21.1K R 343.2K
-36.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MGA 95.3M
$23.6K R 384.2K
-2.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.59 MGA 192.7K
$112 R 1,818
-58.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.23 MGA 63.0K
$31.97 R 521
-52.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 MGA 216.7K
$40.41 R 659
29.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.14 MGA 91.6K
$31.85 R 519
-30.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 MGA 27.4K
$9.68 R 158
-31.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.79 MGA 28.1K
$6.64 R 108
2.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$70.8 MGA 292.8K
$190 R 3,100
-62.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K MGA 48.7M
$4,317 R 70.4K
172.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.50 MGA 109.6K
$48.50 R 791
-45.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.72 MGA 114.7K
$30.47 R 497
-9.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.4 MGA 295.1K
$94.3 R 1,536
-24.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.7 MGA 209.6K
$81.4 R 1,327
-37.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 MGA 1.2M
$453 R 7,380
-34.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 MGA 413.7K
$371 R 6,047
-73.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 MGA 2.3M
$881 R 14.4K
-37.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 MGA 1.5M
$705 R 11.5K
-47.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$695 MGA 2.9M
$1,147 R 18.7K
-39.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$601 MGA 2.5M
$818 R 13.3K
-26.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madagascar
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$135 MGA 559.7K
$1,476 R 24.1K
-90.83%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for South Africa: April 12, 2026

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

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