The island nation of Madagascar located off the coast of East Africa provides a unique and fascinating place to call home. With its rich biodiversity, exotic culture and laidback island lifestyle, Madagascar offers an alternative to more mainstream destinations. Here are some key things to know about living in Madagascar.
Why Move to Madagascar?
There are several reasons one might choose to move to Madagascar. The main draw is Madagascar’s natural beauty with untouched jungles, volcanoes, beaches and lemurs found nowhere else on Earth.
The island’s history as a melting pot of African, Arabic, Indian and European influences has created a vibrant and distinctive culture. For those seeking adventure, Madagascar provides opportunities for ecotourism, hiking and nature exploration. Jobs are available in areas like conservation, tourism and development work.
The Malagasy people are known for their easygoing and welcoming nature, making it easy to integrate into communities.
Overall, Madagascar delivers an exotic and off-the-beaten path island experience amidst natural wonders and a rich culture.
Living in Madagascar: Pros and Cons
Living in Madagascar has both advantages and disadvantages.
Some pros include the beautiful natural environment, unique biodiversity, affordable cost of living, relaxed island lifestyle and welcoming Malagasy people.
However, some cons to consider are linguistic challenges as French and Malagasy are the official languages, lack of infrastructure with frequent power outages and scarce supplies, limited employment opportunities, health risks from diseases like malaria, and difficulties accessing services and amenities compared to developed nations.
As with anywhere, you must weigh the trade-offs based on your priorities and lifestyle. While challenging at times, Madagascar also rewards those who embrace its alternative way of living.
The Cost of Living in Madagascar: A Comprehensive Guide
The cost of living in Madagascar is considered very low by international standards, though incomes are also very low and poverty rates high.
- Rent for a basic two or three bedroom house ranges from around $100 to $500 per month depending on location.
- Utilities like water, electricity and internet are often unreliable and expensive where available. Groceries and household items are quite inexpensive with staple foods like rice, meat, and produce costing fraction of prices in Western nations.
- Public transport by taxi or bus is also affordable.
- International goods and amenities are often imported at high cost.
- International schools range from around $3,000 to $15,000 per year.
Overall, most residents and expats live on limited budgets due to the underdeveloped economy and widespread poverty.
Quality of Life in Madagascar
Quality of life in Madagascar is low, ranking 161st out of 189 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index.
- Even for those with higher incomes, Madagascar provides a challenging lifestyle with limited infrastructure, unreliable utilities and scarce amenities.
- Healthcare is inadequate with few modern facilities and health professionals.
- Safety and security concerns can be problematic at times, especially in bigger cities.
- For most Malagasy residents, hardships and deprivations are common due to high poverty levels, lack of opportunities and underdeveloped public services.
However, the easygoing Malagasy “vitokoasy” or laidback lifestyle helps enhance satisfaction for some. Culture and community also aid resilience. But living conditions remain difficult with development indicators among the worst in the world.
A Beginner’s Guide to Madagascar Culture
Madagascar’s diverse culture has been shaped by the blending of Malayo-Indonesian, African, Indian, Arabic and European influences.
- Most Malagasy people adhere to traditional beliefs with Christianity and Islam as minority religions.
- The Malagasy language is dominant though French is also spoken.
- Malagasy culture places importance on family ties, respect for elders, and community spirit with social harmony valued.
- Traditional greetings involve the “manitsa” or cheek-to-cheek kiss and inquiries about family members. The easygoing “vitokoasy” or laidback lifestyle remains central to Malagasy culture despite increasing modernity.
- People are known for being warm, welcoming and humorous with a joy for living and celebrating life through music, dance and colorful festivals.
However, deep poverty does impact cultural traditions and family structures.
Best Places to Live in Madagascar
The main choices for where to live in Madagascar are Antananarivo, the capital and largest city, and coastal towns like Mahajanga, Tamatave and Toliara.
Antananarivo offers the most job opportunities, amenities and expat community, albeit with pollution, traffic and high costs.
Coastal towns provide a more relaxed lifestyle near beaches but with fewer employment prospects and conveniences.
Towns near national parks like Andasibe offer ecotourism jobs and access to nature but remain underdeveloped with basic conditions.
Overall, most expats choose Antananarivo initially for work before relocating to a coastal or park town once settled. Your interests and priorities will ultimately determine the best place to experience life in the diverse and captivating country of Madagascar.
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