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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 43.1% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 89.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 56.1% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 71.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$2.74 MGA 12.2K
230.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$17.74 MGA 79K
118.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$4.33 MGA 19.3K
13.16%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$1.28 MGA 5,709
54.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$0.91 MGA 4,044
5.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$0.66 MGA 2,937
13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$1.07 MGA 4,751
103.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$1.56 MGA 6,955
62.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$1.06 MGA 4,724
3.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$0.96 MGA 4,277
7.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
$0.69 MGA 3,062
126.09%
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$2.05 MGA 9,148
9.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$9.83 MGA 43.8K
-21.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$4.95 MGA 22.1K
-6.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
$4.14 MGA 18.4K
65.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$1.16 MGA 5,161
36.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$0.59 MGA 2,634
140.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$1.03 MGA 4,575
39.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$0.91 MGA 4,066
63.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$0.57 MGA 2,524
119.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$0.78 MGA 3,482
71.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$0.34 MGA 1,527
220.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$0.63 MGA 2,818
52.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$1.75 MGA 7,809
65.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
$4.82 MGA 21.5K
5.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$0.89 MGA 3,956
55.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$1.22 MGA 5,439
37.70%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$0.15 MGA 666
1040.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
$8.67 MGA 38.6K
419.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
$2.23 MGA 9,932
-50.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$2.07 MGA 9,205
-47.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
$4.47 MGA 19.9K
7.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.22 MGA 5,443
7.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
$13.5K MGA 60.3M
55.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
$23.1K MGA 102.7M
2.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$45.8 MGA 204K
146.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
$14.88 MGA 66.3K
122.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$52.8 MGA 235.3K
-21.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$22.63 MGA 100.8K
40.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
$6.51 MGA 29K
45.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
$6.74 MGA 30K
-0.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
$71.5 MGA 318.5K
159.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
$11.9K MGA 53M
-63.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
$26.45 MGA 117.8K
83.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
$27.53 MGA 122.6K
11.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
$71.9 MGA 320.4K
27.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
$52.2 MGA 232.6K
52.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$294 MGA 1.3M
50.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$101 MGA 449.9K
266.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$546 MGA 2.4M
61.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$369 MGA 1.6M
96.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
$842 MGA 3.8M
21.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$571 MGA 2.5M
40.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$112 MGA 497.5K
1159.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
17.25
-33.04%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for Madagascar: October 28, 2025

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