Madagascar (MG)
World's fourth-largest island, Madagascar offers extraordinary biodiversity (90% of wildlife found nowhere else), one of the world's lowest costs of living, warm French-speaking culture, and unique opportunities in vanilla, ecotourism, and development sectors.
Capital: Antananarivo
Region: Africa
Language: Malagasy
Currency: MGA (Ar)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 15)
Emergency: 117
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Madagascar — 2026 data in MGA.
15
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Rice (1kg, local market) Ar 2,000–4,000
Bread (baguette) Ar 1,500–3,000
Eggs (12) Ar 8,000–15,000
Zebu beef / chicken (1kg, market) Ar 18,000–35,000
Fresh vegetables (1kg, tomatoes) Ar 2,000–5,000
Imported pasta (500g, Score) Ar 5,000–10,000
Three Horses Beer / THB (0.65L, supermarket) Ar 3,000–5,000
Bottled water (1.5L, Eau Vive) Ar 1,500–3,000
Monthly groceries for 1 person (expat diet) Ar 200,000–500,000
Monthly groceries for 1 person (local diet) Ar 80,000–180,000
Dining Out
Street food (mofo gasy, samosa, brochette) Ar 500–3,000
Local gargote / canteen lunch Ar 5,000–12,000
Mid-range restaurant main course Ar 15,000–40,000
Coffee (espresso, café) Ar 3,000–8,000
THB beer in a bar (0.65L) Ar 5,000–10,000
Dinner for 2 (mid-range French restaurant) Ar 80,000–200,000
Zebu steak meal (restaurant) Ar 30,000–60,000
Pizza (mid-range Tana restaurant) Ar 20,000–45,000
Rent
Studio / 1-bedroom (Antananarivo, Ivandry/Ambatobe expat area) Ar 400,000–900,000
2-bedroom furnished apartment (Tana expat neighbourhood) Ar 800,000–2,000,000
3-bedroom villa with garden (Tana suburbs) Ar 1,500,000–4,000,000
1-bedroom apartment (Tana city centre, local area) Ar 200,000–500,000
Room in shared house (local standard) Ar 80,000–200,000
Beach bungalow rental (Nosy Be) Ar 600,000–2,500,000
Transport
Taxi-be (shared minibus, single trip Tana) Ar 500–1,000
Taxi (private, short trip Tana 3–5km) Ar 10,000–25,000
Moto-taxi (short trip) Ar 3,000–8,000
Petrol (per litre, unleaded) Ar 6,500–7,500
Taxi-brousse (Tana to Antsirabe, ~170km) Ar 15,000–25,000
Air Madagascar / Tsaradia domestic flight (Tana–Nosy Be) Ar 250,000–600,000
KOBALY app-taxi (Tana, similar to Uber) Ar 12,000–35,000
Monthly car hire (Toyota 4WD, long-term) Ar 1,500,000–3,000,000
Utilities
Electricity (JIRAMA, typical expat apartment) Ar 50,000–150,000
Water (JIRAMA, monthly) Ar 15,000–40,000
Telma fibre internet (20–100 Mbps) Ar 70,000–150,000
Mobile data (5GB, Telma/Orange/Airtel) Ar 15,000–40,000
LPG cooking gas cylinder (12kg refill) Ar 35,000–60,000
Private waste collection (Tana) Ar 30,000–80,000
Generator fuel (monthly, essential for expat homes) Ar 100,000–300,000
Health & Insurance
Private GP consultation (Tana) Ar 30,000–80,000
Private specialist consultation Ar 50,000–150,000
Private clinic emergency consultation Ar 80,000–250,000
Dental check-up and cleaning (private) Ar 50,000–120,000
Prescription medication (pharmacy) Ar 5,000–50,000
International health insurance (expat, annual) Ar 3,800,000–14,100,000
Medevac insurance (annual, essential) Ar 1,400,000–2,800,000
PCR test (private lab) Ar 50,000–100,000
Childcare
Lycée Français de Tananarive (LFT) — primary/year Ar 2,500,000–4,500,000/year
LFT secondary (collège/lycée)/year Ar 3,000,000–6,500,000/year
American School of Antananarivo (ASA)/year Ar 37,000,000–94,000,000
Private French-system crèche/month Ar 200,000–600,000/month
Alliance Française French course (8–12 weeks) Ar 200,000–500,000
Malagasy private tutor (per hour) Ar 30,000–100,000
Public university tuition/year Ar 50,000–200,000/year
Leisure
Cinema ticket (Tana) Ar 10,000–20,000
Gym membership (expat gym, Tana) Ar 80,000–200,000/month
Hotel (mid-range Tana, per night) Ar 200,000–500,000
Eco-lodge / beach resort (Nosy Be, per night) Ar 400,000–1,500,000
National Park entry fee (Ranomafana, Isalo) Ar 55,000–80,000
Local guide (per day, national park) Ar 80,000–200,000
Wine (decent bottle, Score) Ar 30,000–80,000
Domestic flight + national park trip (2 nights) Ar 700,000–2,000,000
Cost of Living
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