😐A single person spends $1,689 per month in Spain vs $313 in Madagascar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,496 per month in Spain vs $491 in Madagascar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,303 per month in Spain vs $668 in Madagascar, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Spain is about 440% higher than in Madagascar on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Spain sits 22% above the global median, while Madagascar is 77% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71€15.27
$2.24MGA 9,725
690.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6€49.61
$17.49MGA 75.8K
229.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.81€10.18
$4.78MGA 20.7K
147.07%
Cappuccino
$2.43€2.10
$1.36MGA 5,892
78.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.38
$0.81MGA 3,497
240.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.59
$0.65MGA 2,836
183.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52€3.03
$1.14MGA 4,931
208.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16€3.58
$1.78MGA 7,720
133.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.04
$1.18MGA 5,108
2.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54€1.32
$0.98MGA 4,257
57.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$0.77MGA 3,339
112.99%
Eggs
$3.59€3.10
$2.13MGA 9,249
68.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.81€12.77
$8.84MGA 38.3K
67.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49€7.32
$5.25MGA 22.7K
61.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.68€14.38
$4.83MGA 20.9K
245.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$1.21MGA 5,250
109.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.67MGA 2,894
211.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$0.99MGA 4,307
115.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$0.90MGA 3,880
183.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$0.57MGA 2,463
219.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.79MGA 3,425
153.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37€1.18
$0.34MGA 1,493
302.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.70
$0.65MGA 2,807
24.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71€5.79
$1.68MGA 7,263
299.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€4.87
$5.12MGA 22.2K
10.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$0.92MGA 3,991
40.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.81
$1.65MGA 7,153
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.51
$0.14MGA 603
1157.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.25€29.52
$19.02MGA 82.4K
80.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.55€3.92
$3.59MGA 15.5K
26.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.27
$2.40MGA 10.4K
-38.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.66€22.12
$4.76MGA 20.6K
439.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.54
$1.19MGA 5,141
50.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.4K
$13.2KMGA 57.1M
176.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€26.4K
$24.9KMGA 107.8M
22.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152€131
$68.5MGA 296.6K
122.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.49€15.94
$17.99MGA 77.9K
2.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.57€28.94
$56.1MGA 242.9K
-40.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.38€40.84
$24.07MGA 104.3K
96.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56€13.41
$7.56MGA 32.7K
105.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.96€8.59
$6.46MGA 28.0K
54.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$548€473
$26.47MGA 114.7K
1971.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K€9,343
$15.5KMGA 67.1M
-30.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1€77.6
$21.11MGA 91.5K
326.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31€32.16
$27.23MGA 118.0K
37.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€79.3
$72.2MGA 312.6K
27.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€96.1
$49.68MGA 215.3K
124.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,049€905
$308MGA 1.3M
241.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$836€720
$144MGA 621.8K
482.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,663€1,433
$722MGA 3.1M
130.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,250€1,078
$342MGA 1.5M
265.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,240€3,655
$699MGA 3.0M
506.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,711€2,337
$598MGA 2.6M
353.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,021€1,742
$131MGA 567.7K
1442.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.28
19.75
-83.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: September 7, 2026
Last update for Madagascar: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $931 in Spain vs $63.0 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,577 in Madrid and $333 in Antananarivo.
💰Average salary: $2,035 in Spain vs $132 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1378% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 490% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 933% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 1442% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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
Spain vs Madagascar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Madagascar or Spain?
Madagascar is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 443% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Madagascar or in Spain?
Housing costs more in Spain, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Spain consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Madagascar vs Spain?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Madagascar, contributing to the overall 443% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Madagascar and Spain on $800 per month?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Madagascar, but in Spain it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Madagascar or Spain?
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.