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 $2,643 per month in United States vs $195 in Madagascar, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $336 in Madagascar, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $476 in Madagascar, rent included.

United States costs about 1255% more than Madagascar on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Madagascar is 85% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$2.74 MGA 11.5K

631.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$17.59 MGA 73.8K

332.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$4.35 MGA 18.2K

162.53%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$1.28 MGA 5,377

321.09%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.90 MGA 3,762

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.62 MGA 2,617

229.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$1.02 MGA 4,285

501.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$1.53 MGA 6,429

369.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.11 MGA 4,667

-6.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.98 MGA 4,103

272.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$0.71 MGA 2,994

566.20%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.00 MGA 8,368

119.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$9.82 MGA 41.2K

29.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$4.77 MGA 20.0K

160.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$4.21 MGA 17.6K

289.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.17 MGA 4,898

363.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.63 MGA 2,650

161.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.02 MGA 4,280

350.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$0.88 MGA 3,704

457.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.53 MGA 2,238

450.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$0.75 MGA 3,163

317.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.35 MGA 1,462

545.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.63 MGA 2,662

265.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$1.76 MGA 7,373

461.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$5.46 MGA 22.9K

176.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.84 MGA 3,509

127.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.28 MGA 5,366

185.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.15 MGA 622

1553.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$9.08 MGA 38.1K

613.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.25 MGA 9,429

70.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.04 MGA 8,535

-13.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$4.55 MGA 19.1K

572.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.28 MGA 5,346

-25.00%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$13.6K MGA 56.9M

124.68%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.5K MGA 98.5M

12.25%

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

$204 $204

$46.66 MGA 195.6K

337.57%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$15.15 MGA 63.5K

278.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$51.5 MGA 216.0K

38.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$22.18 MGA 93.0K

110.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$6.35 MGA 26.6K

248.35%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$6.69 MGA 28.1K

106.88%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$71.4 MGA 299.2K

1838.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$11.5K MGA 48.3M

96.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$26.60 MGA 111.5K

99.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$27.46 MGA 115.1K

57.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$71.8 MGA 301.2K

26.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$52.4 MGA 219.8K

117.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$303 MGA 1.3M

483.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$101 MGA 421.5K

1351.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$535 MGA 2.2M

429.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$369 MGA 1.5M

554.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$686 MGA 2.9M

378.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$589 MGA 2.5M

349.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$130 MGA 544.8K

3269.86%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $71.0 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $382 in Antananarivo.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $130 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 2206% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 943% more in United States.

Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 3362% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 1025% 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 1025% 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.