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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 42.2% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 92.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 57.5% more expensive than Madagascar without rent, and 67.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.71 R 142
$2.73 MGA 11.3K
219.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.43 R 643
$17.81 MGA 73.6K
121.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.16 R 84.1
$4.52 MGA 18.7K
14.16%
Cappuccino
$2.03 R 33.09
$1.28 MGA 5,276
58.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 R 16.83
$0.88 MGA 3,635
17.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 R 12.83
$0.66 MGA 2,748
19.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 R 37.53
$1.04 MGA 4,281
121.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 R 41.59
$1.51 MGA 6,257
68.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 R 18.16
$1.12 MGA 4,630
-0.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 R 16.92
$0.98 MGA 4,057
6.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 R 25.17
$0.67 MGA 2,779
129.85%
Eggs
$2.24 R 36.56
$2.09 MGA 8,624
7.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.86 R 128
$9.98 MGA 41.3K
-21.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.73 R 77.2
$4.83 MGA 20.0K
-2.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.65 R 108
$4.12 MGA 17.1K
61.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.66
$1.19 MGA 4,923
26.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 R 22.93
$0.63 MGA 2,614
123.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.31
$1.01 MGA 4,163
47.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.47
$0.93 MGA 3,847
67.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 R 19.47
$0.57 MGA 2,369
108.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 R 21.13
$0.79 MGA 3,248
64.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 R 16.99
$0.34 MGA 1,421
205.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 15.69
$0.60 MGA 2,502
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 R 47.67
$1.83 MGA 7,565
59.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.80 R 78.3
$5.39 MGA 22.3K
-10.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 R 21.75
$0.84 MGA 3,456
58.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 R 28.08
$1.22 MGA 5,036
40.98%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 R 27.72
$0.14 MGA 588
1114.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.20 R 737
$9.00 MGA 37.2K
402.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 R 17.81
$2.16 MGA 8,922
-49.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 R 17.13
$1.97 MGA 8,148
-46.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.73 R 77.1
$4.45 MGA 18.4K
6.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R 21.10
$1.22 MGA 5,026
5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K R 343.2K
$13.4K MGA 55.2M
57.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K R 384.2K
$23.1K MGA 95.3M
2.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 R 1,818
$46.59 MGA 192.7K
139.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.97 R 521
$15.23 MGA 63.0K
109.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.41 R 659
$52.4 MGA 216.7K
-22.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.85 R 519
$22.14 MGA 91.6K
43.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.68 R 158
$6.63 MGA 27.4K
46.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64 R 108
$6.79 MGA 28.1K
-2.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 R 3,100
$70.8 MGA 292.8K
168.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,317 R 70.4K
$11.8K MGA 48.7M
-63.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.50 R 791
$26.50 MGA 109.6K
83.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.47 R 497
$27.72 MGA 114.7K
9.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 R 1,536
$71.4 MGA 295.1K
32.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4 R 1,327
$50.7 MGA 209.6K
60.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 R 7,380
$299 MGA 1.2M
51.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 R 6,047
$100 MGA 413.7K
270.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$881 R 14.4K
$549 MGA 2.3M
60.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 R 11.5K
$367 MGA 1.5M
92.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,147 R 18.7K
$695 MGA 2.9M
65.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$818 R 13.3K
$601 MGA 2.5M
35.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,476 R 24.1K
$135 MGA 559.7K
990.96%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: April 14, 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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