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

Name: Madagascar
Address: MG

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in South Africa vs $313 in Madagascar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,781 per month in South Africa vs $491 in Madagascar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,419 per month in South Africa vs $668 in Madagascar, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 265% higher than in Madagascar on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and Madagascar are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 17% lower, Madagascar 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.30 R 182

$2.24 MGA 9,725

404.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.51 R 717

$17.49 MGA 75.8K

154.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.90 R 95.0

$4.78 MGA 20.7K

23.43%

Cappuccino

$2.44 R 39.22

$1.36 MGA 5,892

79.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 R 18.64

$0.81 MGA 3,497

43.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.39

$0.65 MGA 2,836

47.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 R 41.29

$1.14 MGA 4,931

124.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 R 49.60

$1.78 MGA 7,720

73.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 R 20.57

$1.18 MGA 5,108

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 R 18.15

$0.98 MGA 4,257

15.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 R 29.55

$0.77 MGA 3,339

137.66%

Eggs

$2.55 R 41.12

$2.13 MGA 9,249

19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 R 134

$8.84 MGA 38.3K

-5.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 R 87.6

$5.25 MGA 22.7K

3.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 R 127

$4.83 MGA 20.9K

63.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 R 30.61

$1.21 MGA 5,250

57.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 R 27.36

$0.67 MGA 2,894

153.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 R 29.14

$0.99 MGA 4,307

82.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 R 30.23

$0.90 MGA 3,880

108.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 R 24.76

$0.57 MGA 2,463

170.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 R 24.03

$0.79 MGA 3,425

88.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 R 21.45

$0.34 MGA 1,493

291.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 R 19.09

$0.65 MGA 2,807

83.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 R 55.0

$1.68 MGA 7,263

102.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 R 81.7

$5.12 MGA 22.2K

-0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 R 24.28

$0.92 MGA 3,991

64.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 R 32.64

$1.65 MGA 7,153

23.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 R 28.39

$0.14 MGA 603

1157.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 R 1,016

$19.02 MGA 82.4K

231.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 R 17.97

$3.59 MGA 15.5K

-68.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 R 16.33

$2.40 MGA 10.4K

-57.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 R 130

$4.76 MGA 20.6K

69.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 R 23.53

$1.19 MGA 5,141

22.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.8K R 592.8K

$13.2K MGA 57.1M

179.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K R 523.6K

$24.9K MGA 107.8M

30.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$136 R 2,185

$68.5 MGA 296.6K

98.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.72 R 575

$17.99 MGA 77.9K

98.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.40 R 667

$56.1 MGA 242.9K

-26.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.96 R 563

$24.07 MGA 104.3K

45.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.46 R 201

$7.56 MGA 32.7K

64.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 R 123

$6.46 MGA 28.0K

17.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$231 R 3,725

$26.47 MGA 114.7K

773.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,726 R 92.2K

$15.5K MGA 67.1M

-63.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 R 908

$21.11 MGA 91.5K

166.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.91 R 546

$27.23 MGA 118.0K

24.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 R 1,639

$72.2 MGA 312.6K

41.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.0 R 1,497

$49.68 MGA 215.3K

87.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 R 8,154

$308 MGA 1.3M

64.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 R 6,727

$144 MGA 621.8K

191.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 R 15.8K

$722 MGA 3.1M

35.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$838 R 13.5K

$342 MGA 1.5M

145.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,151 R 18.5K

$699 MGA 3.0M

64.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 R 12.9K

$598 MGA 2.6M

33.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,554 R 25.0K

$131 MGA 567.7K

1086.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.24

19.75

-43.09%

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

Last update for South Africa: September 8, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $445 in South Africa vs $63.0 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $324 in Bloemfontein and $333 in Antananarivo.

Average salary: $1,553 in South Africa vs $132 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 606% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 300% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 467% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are 1077% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

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

South Africa vs Madagascar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Madagascar is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 267% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in South Africa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Africa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Madagascar, contributing to the overall 267% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Madagascar, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Madagascar is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.