For one person, living is cheaper in Madagascar: $615 a month against $1,775 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Madagascar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,775 per month in Spain vs $615 in Madagascar, rent included.
Spain $1,775
Madagascar $615
A couple spends around $2,606 per month in Spain vs $959 in Madagascar, rent included.
Spain $2,606
Madagascar $959
A family of three spends $3,438 per month in Spain vs $1,303 in Madagascar, rent included.
Spain $3,438
Madagascar $1,303
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Spain ($931–$2,610) than in Madagascar ($174–$645), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Spain is about 189% higher than in Madagascar on average.
📊
Spain sits 30% above the global median, while Madagascar is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.89
$2.14MGA 9,816
679.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€49.69
$17.92MGA 82.0K
210.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€10.14
$4.70MGA 21.5K
141.91%
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.16
$1.31MGA 6,013
84.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.39
$0.75MGA 3,412
257.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.60
$0.58MGA 2,645
208.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€3.06
$1.08MGA 4,955
216.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.46
$1.79MGA 8,178
116.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.07
$1.14MGA 5,215
5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.32
$1.00MGA 4,580
48.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.49
$0.75MGA 3,443
122.67%
Eggs
$3.42€3.05
$1.97MGA 9,032
73.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17€12.64
$8.41MGA 38.5K
68.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.43
$4.83MGA 22.1K
72.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20€14.46
$4.70MGA 21.5K
244.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.19
$1.04MGA 4,768
135.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.81
$0.62MGA 2,820
227.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.85
$0.92MGA 4,226
126.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.30
$0.86MGA 3,927
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.63
$0.59MGA 2,686
210.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.79
$0.76MGA 3,474
163.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$0.36MGA 1,630
263.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$0.61MGA 2,790
26.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.68
$1.52MGA 6,979
318.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.03
$5.03MGA 23.0K
12.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.16
$0.87MGA 3,983
49.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.86
$1.59MGA 7,258
31.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.47
$0.12MGA 530
1266.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91€29.36
$17.30MGA 79.2K
90.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.95
$3.22MGA 14.7K
37.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.31
$2.26MGA 10.4K
-34.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.98€22.29
$4.46MGA 20.4K
460.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.58
$1.14MGA 5,195
55.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.7K
$12.1KMGA 55.6M
192.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.3K
$24.1KMGA 110.4M
26.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€133
$64.6MGA 295.4K
131.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.77
$17.45MGA 79.9K
1.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88€28.44
$52.5MGA 240.1K
-39.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.24€39.47
$23.01MGA 105.3K
92.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29€13.64
$7.14MGA 32.7K
114.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66€8.62
$6.22MGA 28.5K
55.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€486
$25.46MGA 116.5K
2037.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,463
$14.8KMGA 67.7M
-28.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9€75.8
$20.33MGA 93.0K
317.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11€33.11
$25.07MGA 114.7K
48.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2€79.6
$67.2MGA 307.3K
32.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€94.3
$46.30MGA 211.9K
128.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€943
$294MGA 1.3M
258.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€721
$138MGA 629.5K
487.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,446
$681MGA 3.1M
137.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,112
$314MGA 1.4M
296.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,690
$658MGA 3.0M
528.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633€2,349
$560MGA 2.6M
369.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,999€1,784
$122MGA 557.7K
1540.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
19.75
-83.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 24, 2026
Last update for Madagascar: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$808 45.5%
Madagascar
$138 22.4% ↓ 83%$670
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.3%
Madagascar
$142 23.1% ↓ 47.6%$129
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.5%
Madagascar
$61 10% ↓ 74.4%$178
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.2%
Madagascar
$134 21.9% ↓ 32.4%$64
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8%
Madagascar
$71 11.6% ↓ 49.9%$71
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.6%
Madagascar
$35 5.8% ↓ 44.2%$28
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$51 2.9%
Madagascar
$32 5.3% ↓ 37%$19
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 36.3%
Madagascar
$314 24.1% ↓ 74.8%$932
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 18.8%
Madagascar
$329 25.2% ↓ 49.2%$318
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.2%
Madagascar
$207 15.9% ↓ 72.9%$557
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$217 6.3%
Madagascar
$152 11.7% ↓ 29.8%$65
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$317 9.2%
Madagascar
$159 12.2% ↓ 49.9%$158
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.1%
Madagascar
$78 6% ↓ 45.2%$64
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$106 3.1%
Madagascar
$65 5% ↓ 38.7%$41
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $920 in Spain vs $260 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,508 in Madrid and $323 in Antananarivo.
💰Average salary: $1,972 in Spain vs $126 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 254% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 256% more in Spain.
⭐Salaries are about 16 times higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 65% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Madagascar or in Spain?
Housing costs more in Spain: a central one-bedroom averages $920 versus $260 in Madagascar.
Which country is better for expats: Madagascar or Spain?
Madagascar is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.