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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 45.6% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 88.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 58.5% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 67.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.70 R 143
$2.60 MGA 10.9K
234.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.91 R 641
$17.45 MGA 73.0K
122.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 R 85.3
$4.32 MGA 18.1K
19.68%
Cappuccino
$2.05 R 33.82
$1.28 MGA 5,370
60.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 R 16.87
$0.96 MGA 4,029
6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 R 12.51
$0.65 MGA 2,725
16.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 R 37.20
$1.03 MGA 4,316
119.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 R 41.77
$1.51 MGA 6,302
67.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 R 18.20
$1.11 MGA 4,658
-0.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 R 15.51
$0.97 MGA 4,063
-3.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 R 26.76
$0.68 MGA 2,863
138.24%
Eggs
$2.22 R 36.61
$2.00 MGA 8,363
11.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 R 124
$9.68 MGA 40.5K
-22.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.48 R 73.8
$4.95 MGA 20.7K
-9.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.61 R 109
$4.31 MGA 18.1K
53.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 R 24.74
$1.15 MGA 4,798
30.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 23.41
$0.65 MGA 2,711
118.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 R 24.08
$1.02 MGA 4,257
43.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.91
$0.88 MGA 3,665
71.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R 20.70
$0.53 MGA 2,217
137.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 R 21.34
$0.74 MGA 3,117
74.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 R 16.95
$0.34 MGA 1,442
202.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 R 15.93
$0.65 MGA 2,702
49.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 R 47.30
$1.79 MGA 7,503
60.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.90 R 80.7
$5.10 MGA 21.4K
-3.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R 21.65
$0.87 MGA 3,648
50.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 R 28.59
$1.29 MGA 5,380
34.11%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 R 27.17
$0.14 MGA 583
1078.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.20 R 728
$8.65 MGA 36.2K
410.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 R 18.79
$2.23 MGA 9,336
-48.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 17.98
$1.97 MGA 8,245
-44.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.70 R 77.5
$4.39 MGA 18.4K
7.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 R 21.35
$1.28 MGA 5,364
1.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K R 342.7K
$13.2K MGA 55.4M
57.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K R 387.5K
$22.9K MGA 95.7M
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 R 1,835
$47.02 MGA 196.8K
136.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.36 R 533
$14.73 MGA 61.7K
119.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.49 R 667
$51.9 MGA 217.4K
-22.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.96 R 527
$22.48 MGA 94.1K
42.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.72 R 160
$6.29 MGA 26.3K
54.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 R 112
$6.63 MGA 27.7K
2.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 R 3,107
$70.6 MGA 295.3K
167.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,400 R 72.5K
$11.8K MGA 49.5M
-62.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 R 827
$26.61 MGA 111.4K
88.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.53 R 503
$27.76 MGA 116.2K
9.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 R 1,558
$73.0 MGA 305.4K
29.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3 R 1,340
$52.0 MGA 217.7K
56.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 R 7,461
$293 MGA 1.2M
54.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 R 6,132
$101 MGA 422.8K
268.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$906 R 14.9K
$540 MGA 2.3M
67.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 R 11.6K
$365 MGA 1.5M
92.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,150 R 19.0K
$707 MGA 3.0M
62.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$836 R 13.8K
$602 MGA 2.5M
38.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,471 R 24.2K
$126 MGA 525.7K
1071.43%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 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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