😐A single person spends $1,642 per month in Spain vs $199 in Madagascar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,392 per month in Spain vs $339 in Madagascar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,142 per month in Spain vs $479 in Madagascar, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Spain is about 725% higher than in Madagascar on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Spain sits 23% above the global median, while Madagascar is 85% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.06€14.00
$2.71MGA 11.7K
492.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€49.57
$17.45MGA 75.3K
225.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30€8.98
$4.54MGA 19.6K
126.87%
Cappuccino
$2.32€2.02
$1.29MGA 5,548
79.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.27
$0.88MGA 3,789
195.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.60
$0.61MGA 2,633
201.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.99
$1.02MGA 4,416
236.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97€3.46
$1.58MGA 6,807
151.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.04
$1.10MGA 4,753
8.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52€1.33
$0.91MGA 3,916
67.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$0.68MGA 2,949
145.59%
Eggs
$2.98€2.60
$2.00MGA 8,639
49.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.42€12.58
$9.68MGA 41.7K
48.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59€7.49
$4.85MGA 20.9K
77.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.95€13.91
$4.33MGA 18.7K
268.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.19
$1.20MGA 5,180
109.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$0.65MGA 2,790
218.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.78
$0.96MGA 4,124
112.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.30
$0.87MGA 3,759
203.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$0.54MGA 2,311
225.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$0.79MGA 3,414
150.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.17
$0.35MGA 1,490
285.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.65
$0.60MGA 2,588
23.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27€5.46
$1.76MGA 7,614
256.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€5.01
$5.32MGA 23.0K
8.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.14
$0.85MGA 3,646
52.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.80
$1.28MGA 5,536
60.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.54
$0.14MGA 599
1164.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.49€30.07
$9.08MGA 39.2K
279.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.49€3.91
$2.27MGA 9,784
97.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32€1.15
$1.97MGA 8,510
-32.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.12€23.64
$4.42MGA 19.1K
513.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.57
$1.27MGA 5,493
41.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.3K
$13.2KMGA 57.0M
189.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K€26.9K
$23.1KMGA 99.7M
33.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€130
$45.93MGA 198.2K
223.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.14€17.56
$15.04MGA 64.9K
33.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50€29.21
$51.9MGA 223.7K
-35.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.30€40.37
$22.38MGA 96.5K
106.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.61€13.61
$6.55MGA 28.2K
138.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.40€8.20
$6.77MGA 29.2K
38.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$522€455
$70.3MGA 303.2K
643.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,880€8,613
$11.9KMGA 51.2M
-16.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1€76.8
$26.85MGA 115.9K
227.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.98€31.36
$27.64MGA 119.2K
30.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0€77.6
$73.0MGA 315.0K
21.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€94.2
$50.9MGA 219.7K
112.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,039€906
$298MGA 1.3M
249.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€715
$101MGA 437.1K
708.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,472
$534MGA 2.3M
216.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,214€1,058
$371MGA 1.6M
227.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,301€3,750
$683MGA 2.9M
530.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,604€2,270
$580MGA 2.5M
348.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Madagascar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,982€1,728
$131MGA 565.2K
1412.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
17.25
-79.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: July 27, 2026
Last update for Madagascar: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $898 in Spain vs $71.0 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,561 in Madrid and $387 in Antananarivo.
💰Average salary: $1,989 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 1165% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 657% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 1550% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 1407% 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 657% 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 657% 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.