Madagascar Travel Budget - Visit Madagascar on a Budget or Travel in Style


How much does it cost to travel to Madagascar?

You should plan to spend around $85 (MGA374,822) per day on your vacation in Madagascar. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $31 (MGA137,037) on meals
  • $14 (MGA62,509) on local transportation
  • $71 (MGA314,697) on hotels

A one week trip to Madagascar for two people costs, on average, $1,186 (MGA5,247,509). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $85
    MGA374,822
  • One Week Per person
    $593
    MGA2,623,755
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,186
    MGA5,247,509
  • One Month Per person
    $2,541
    MGA11,244,663
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,186
    MGA5,247,509
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,372
    MGA10,495,019
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,083
    MGA22,489,326
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Madagascar cost?

A one week trip to Madagascar usually costs around $593 (MGA2,623,755) for one person and $1,186 (MGA5,247,509) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Madagascar on average costs around $1,186 (MGA5,247,509) for one person and $2,372 (MGA10,495,019) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Madagascar will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Madagascar on average costs around $2,541 (MGA11,244,663) for one person and $5,083 (MGA22,489,326) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




How much do package tours cost in Madagascar?

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Madagascar is $276 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.



Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Madagascar expensive to visit?

Madagascar is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Africa, Madagascar is moderately priced compared to the other countries. The overall cost of travel here is comparable to Namibia or South Africa.

For more details, see Is Madagascar Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Madagascar?

The average Madagascar trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Madagascar travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) MGA314,697 ($71)
Local Transportation 1 MGA62,509 ($14)
Food 2 MGA137,037 ($31)
Entertainment 1 MGA79,458 ($18)
Alcohol 2 MGA20,951 - 62,854 ($5 - 14)
Accommodation Budget in Madagascar
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Madagascar is $36 (MGA157,348). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Madagascar is $71 (MGA314,697). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $36
    MGA157,348
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $71
    MGA314,697

Hotel Prices in Madagascar

Looking for a hotel in Madagascar? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Madagascar based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $61. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Local Transportation Budget in Madagascar
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Madagascar is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $14 (MGA62,509) per person, per day, on local transportation in Madagascar.


  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $14
    MGA62,509

Recommended Services


Food Budget in Madagascar
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Madagascar can vary, the average cost of food in Madagascar is $31 (MGA137,037) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Madagascar should cost around $12 (MGA54,815) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Madagascar is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $31
    MGA137,037

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Madagascar
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Madagascar typically cost an average of $18 (MGA79,458) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $18
    MGA79,458

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Madagascar
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $9.47 (MGA41,903) on alcoholic beverages in Madagascar per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $9.47
    MGA41,903


Madagascar On a Budget
Madagascar Antananarivo
Madagascar is both a country and an island that is located in the Indian Ocean off of the eastern coast of Africa. It is also the fourth largest island in the world. Because the island has remained isolated from the mainland, it has a unique diversity of plants and animals that can not be found anywhere else in the world. 90% of the islands plants are unique to Madagascar, but many of the species are endangered due to human activity and deforestation. Lemurs are a particularly famous animal found only in Madagascar. Most species are considered either threatened or endangered.

Madagascar has tropical rainforest on its eastern, or windward side, and the western and southern sides are tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and desert because they are sheltered from the rain by the central highlands.

Madagascar's climate is tropical along the coast and temperate inland. It is arid in the south. There are two seasons in Madagascar, a rainy and hot season that runs between November and April, and a cooler, dry season between May and October. The island itself has a good amount of variation in climate due to significant variations in elevation. The eastern coast has a sub-equatorial climate and the most rainfall. During the rainy season it is also prone to cyclones. The central highlands are drier and significantly cooler but thunderstorms are common during the rainy season.
At A Glance
  • Air Madagascar is the dominant airline in the country. A variety of domestic flights are available. Internal flights are a good option because the roads on the island are in very poor condition. Flight schedules change frequently so do check the status of your flight in advance.

  • Train is a slow and uncomfortable way to travel, but it does offer some excellent views of the countryside. It is also a cheap way to travel, but if you hope to get a 2nd class ticket, make sure you arrive early as they sell out quickly and advanced booking is not an option.

  • Biking in Madagascar is a great way to explore the island. There is very little traffic so it is possible to cruise along safely down the road. You can stay in the many small towns and villages and really get a feel for the countryside. You will likely need to camp during some of your trip. Basic guesthouses may also be an option. The roads are in very poor condition so you must have a mountain bike or heavy duty tourer. Rainy season is also tricky, particularly on the east coast where the main north-south road may become impassable.

  • Remarkably, almost the entire island of Madagascar speaks one language, Malagasy. Although most people speak this language, there are many different dialects, but the Merina dialect is considered "official Malagasy". French is the official second language of Madagascar. It is frequently used in business interactions but not everyone on the island speaks it proficiently. Some workers in the tourism industry also speak basic English.

  • There are a handful of outdoor and water sports you can enjoy in Madagascar. These include windsurfing, guided kayaking, deep sea fishing and diving. Windsurfing is best done between April and November.

Related
Looking for a hostel in Marrakesh, Cape Town, Nairobi, or Zanzibar?
Top Tourist Attractions
Tsingy de Bemaraha: This is Madagascar's largest reserve as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dramatic landscape includes razor sharp limestone pinnacles that are collectively called the Labyrinth of Stone. In the surrounding deciduous forest you can see brown lemurs and the rare Decken's sifaka. There is a variety of unique plant life as well. In total, the forest is home to over 50 species of birds, 7 species of lemurs, and countless unique and rare animals. The reserve is located 180 kilometers north of Morondava.

Tsingy de Ankarana: This smaller reserve is similar to Tsingy de Bemaraha, although not as impressive. It's located in the north on the national road to Antisirana and is very easily accessible to visitors. It is home to three types of lemurs as well as chameleons.

Avenue of the Baobabs: This impressive group of Baobab trees is located 45 minutes north of Morondava on the west coast of Madagascar. It is a popular destination in the Menave Region and is nominated as one of the 7 Wonders of Africa. Some of the trees are more than 800 years old and over 30 meters high. It's a particularly beautiful place to visit at sunset. You can read more about the Avenue of the Baobabs here.

Popular Foods
Rice is the staple ingredient throughout Madagascar. Rice is prepared with laoka, or an accompaniment. These accompaniments are generally a sauce made from any number of ingredients. In the highlands the sauce is usually tomato based, while in coastal areas coconut milk is a prominent ingredient. Nuts, fish, meat, or vegetables are all combined in different forms to create these dishes. Ginger, garlic and spices are commonly used to give the sauce a more complex flavor.

Vary Amin'anana: This traditional porridge is made with rice, a significant amount of water, meat and chopped greens. It is on of the most popular variations of vary sosoa, which is a rice porridge generally eaten for breakfast.

Romazava: This broth is considered the national dish of Madagascar. It is a beef broth that usually includes ingredients such as tomato, onion and ginger. Anamalao flowers are the defining ingredient in Romazava. These flowers have a mild analgesic effect when consumed.

Mofo Gasy: Mofo is a street food that includes most cakes and fritters in Madagascar. Mofo Gasy is the most common form and is made from a sweetened rice flour batter. It is poured into greased, circular dishes and then cooked over charcoal. It is generally served as a breakfast dish with coffee.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.