Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Madagascar Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Madagascar

Name: Madagascar
Address: MG

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,642 per month in United States vs $199 in Madagascar, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $341 in Madagascar, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in United States vs $483 in Madagascar, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 1228% higher than in Madagascar on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 98% above the global median, while Madagascar is 85% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$2.70 MGA 11.6K

627.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$17.96 MGA 77.0K

320.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$4.48 MGA 19.2K

158.26%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$1.25 MGA 5,356

317.60%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$0.88 MGA 3,780

182.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.63 MGA 2,696

226.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$1.08 MGA 4,630

447.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$1.59 MGA 6,831

348.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.10 MGA 4,738

-0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$0.92 MGA 3,930

286.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$0.68 MGA 2,922

597.06%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$2.08 MGA 8,914

108.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$10.00 MGA 42.9K

26.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$4.77 MGA 20.5K

157.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$4.35 MGA 18.6K

281.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$1.16 MGA 4,975

344.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.64 MGA 2,757

165.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$0.95 MGA 4,081

368.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$0.92 MGA 3,935

421.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.57 MGA 2,466

414.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.79 MGA 3,384

291.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.35 MGA 1,491

534.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.64 MGA 2,760

251.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$1.74 MGA 7,442

468.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$5.07 MGA 21.7K

201.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.84 MGA 3,582

127.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.22 MGA 5,220

193.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.14 MGA 612

1657.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 $64.6

$9.09 MGA 39.0K

611.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.19 MGA 9,405

72.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.02 MGA 8,670

-15.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.08 $30.08

$4.47 MGA 19.2K

572.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.27 MGA 5,458

-24.41%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$13.1K MGA 56.2M

127.76%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.1K MGA 99.2M

13.09%

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

$210 $210

$47.18 MGA 202.4K

345.36%

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

$56.3 $56.3

$14.84 MGA 63.6K

279.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$52.3 MGA 224.3K

39.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$22.50 MGA 96.5K

101.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 $21.60

$6.34 MGA 27.2K

240.69%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$6.55 MGA 28.1K

114.35%

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

$1,377 $1,377

$72.2 MGA 309.5K

1808.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$11.5K MGA 49.1M

95.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$27.22 MGA 116.8K

93.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$27.04 MGA 116.0K

56.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$73.5 MGA 315.3K

24.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$51.2 MGA 219.5K

121.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$294 MGA 1.3M

500.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$100.0 MGA 428.8K

1362.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,849 $2,849

$545 MGA 2.3M

422.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$371 MGA 1.6M

539.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$680 MGA 2.9M

394.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$584 MGA 2.5M

356.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 $4,378

$126 MGA 539.9K

3377.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

17.25

-62.26%

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

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $71.0 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,625 in Washington, MI and $387 in Antananarivo.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $128 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 2203% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 813% more in United States.

Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 3416% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs Madagascar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Madagascar is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 1026% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Madagascar, contributing to the overall 1026% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Madagascar, but in United States 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.