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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 45.8% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 98% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 56.5% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 72.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.84 R 145
$2.68 MGA 12.4K
229.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.50 R 631
$17.42 MGA 80.5K
121.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 R 83.2
$4.57 MGA 21.1K
10.94%
Cappuccino
$2.04 R 33.40
$1.27 MGA 5,884
60.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 R 17.02
$0.88 MGA 4,073
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 R 12.08
$0.62 MGA 2,879
19.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 R 37.83
$1.07 MGA 4,967
115.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 R 40.57
$1.59 MGA 7,348
55.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 R 17.55
$1.06 MGA 4,900
0.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 R 16.51
$0.92 MGA 4,232
9.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 R 25.79
$0.72 MGA 3,322
118.06%
Eggs
$2.33 R 38.26
$2.09 MGA 9,652
11.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.68 R 126
$9.94 MGA 46.0K
-22.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.47 R 73.4
$4.76 MGA 22.0K
-6.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.60 R 108
$4.23 MGA 19.5K
56.03%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.55
$1.17 MGA 5,397
33.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 R 23.80
$0.65 MGA 3,001
123.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.79
$1.02 MGA 4,690
48.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.39
$0.88 MGA 4,067
69.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 R 19.91
$0.57 MGA 2,647
112.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 R 21.80
$0.75 MGA 3,469
77.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 R 17.70
$0.37 MGA 1,732
191.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.34
$0.64 MGA 2,935
46.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85 R 46.74
$1.79 MGA 8,287
59.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.89 R 80.3
$4.84 MGA 22.4K
1.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 22.64
$0.88 MGA 4,049
56.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 R 27.65
$1.23 MGA 5,674
37.40%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 R 28.33
$0.16 MGA 751
981.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.33 R 743
$8.79 MGA 40.6K
415.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 R 18.01
$2.26 MGA 10.4K
-51.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 R 18.03
$2.05 MGA 9,489
-46.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.69 R 76.9
$4.49 MGA 20.7K
4.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 R 21.32
$1.23 MGA 5,677
5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K R 337.3K
$13.2K MGA 61.2M
55.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K R 396.4K
$22.8K MGA 105.2M
6.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 R 1,811
$45.91 MGA 212.1K
140.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.07 R 526
$14.90 MGA 68.8K
115.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.81 R 669
$52.6 MGA 242.8K
-22.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.33 R 514
$22.26 MGA 102.9K
40.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.44 R 155
$6.28 MGA 29.0K
50.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.90 R 113
$6.68 MGA 30.9K
3.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 R 3,074
$71.4 MGA 329.9K
162.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,385 R 71.9K
$11.5K MGA 52.9M
-61.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.70 R 815
$27.05 MGA 125.0K
83.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.23 R 512
$27.17 MGA 125.5K
14.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 R 1,526
$73.4 MGA 339.0K
26.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 R 1,307
$51.1 MGA 236.0K
55.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 R 7,265
$296 MGA 1.4M
49.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 R 6,048
$99.3 MGA 458.9K
271.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$890 R 14.6K
$535 MGA 2.5M
66.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 11.9K
$375 MGA 1.7M
93.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,125 R 18.5K
$674 MGA 3.1M
67.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$823 R 13.5K
$580 MGA 2.7M
41.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,486 R 24.4K
$112 MGA 518.0K
1225.96%
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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: January 12, 2026

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