Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Madagascar

Name: Madagascar
Address: MG

For one person, living is cheaper in Madagascar: $615 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $25,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
30

Cost of Living Index in Madagascar
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Madagascar Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$615

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Madagascar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Madagascar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $615 in Madagascar, rent included.

United States $2,734
Madagascar $615

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $959 in Madagascar, rent included.

United States $3,985
Madagascar $959

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $1,303 in Madagascar, rent included.

United States $5,235
Madagascar $1,303

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Madagascar ($174–$645), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 345% higher than in Madagascar on average.

The United States sits 101% above the global median, while Madagascar is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$2.14 MGA 9,816

835.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$17.92 MGA 82.0K

346.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$4.70 MGA 21.5K

151.06%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$1.31 MGA 6,013

323.66%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$0.75 MGA 3,412

254.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.58 MGA 2,645

274.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$1.08 MGA 4,955

466.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$1.79 MGA 8,178

343.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.14 MGA 5,215

-8.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.00 MGA 4,580

259.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$0.75 MGA 3,443

502.67%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$1.97 MGA 9,032

117.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$8.41 MGA 38.5K

57.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$4.83 MGA 22.1K

160.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$4.70 MGA 21.5K

274.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.04 MGA 4,768

409.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$0.62 MGA 2,820

172.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$0.92 MGA 4,226

382.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$0.86 MGA 3,927

454.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.59 MGA 2,686

403.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$0.76 MGA 3,474

314.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.36 MGA 1,630

511.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.61 MGA 2,790

285.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$1.52 MGA 6,979

622.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$5.03 MGA 23.0K

199.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.87 MGA 3,983

136.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.59 MGA 7,258

138.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.12 MGA 530

1516.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$17.30 MGA 79.2K

243.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.22 MGA 14.7K

11.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.26 MGA 10.4K

-16.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$4.46 MGA 20.4K

569.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.14 MGA 5,195

-10.53%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$12.1K MGA 55.6M

136.89%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.1K MGA 110.4M

8.60%

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

$218 $218

$64.6 MGA 295.4K

237.66%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$17.45 MGA 79.9K

257.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$52.5 MGA 240.1K

41.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$23.01 MGA 105.3K

81.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$7.14 MGA 32.7K

219.47%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$6.22 MGA 28.5K

136.33%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$25.46 MGA 116.5K

5748.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$14.8K MGA 67.7M

70.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$20.33 MGA 93.0K

167.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$25.07 MGA 114.7K

70.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$67.2 MGA 307.3K

40.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$46.30 MGA 211.9K

145.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$294 MGA 1.3M

463.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$138 MGA 629.5K

879.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$681 MGA 3.1M

293.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$314 MGA 1.4M

590.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$658 MGA 3.0M

398.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$560 MGA 2.6M

342.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$122 MGA 557.7K

3426.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

19.75

-66.84%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Madagascar: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Madagascar

$138 22.4% 89.8% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Madagascar

$142 23.1% 65.8% $273

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Madagascar

$134 21.9% 62.1% $220

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Madagascar

$61 10% 81.3% $267

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Madagascar

$71 11.6% 47.9% $66

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Madagascar

$32 5.3% 59.7% $48

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Madagascar

$35 5.8% 50.3% $36

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $260 in Madagascar. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $323 in Antananarivo.

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $126 in Madagascar. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 523% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 369% more in the United States.

Public transport is 80% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 36 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇲🇬 Madagascar

🕒 Local time

09:29 9:29 AM

17:29 5:29 PM

8 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

25,570,895

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Malagasy Ariary MGA Ar

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MGA, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇲🇬 Malagasy Ariary (Ar)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4,577 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD). 1 EUR = 5,108 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR).

MGA to USD in detail →

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Between locations

United States Madagascar 15,210 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
Madagascar

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

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

Madagascar is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 78% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $260 in Madagascar.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Madagascar – part of why living there is about 78% cheaper overall.

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.