Money in Madagascar

Malagasy Ariary (MGA) is the only usable currency — EUR is the most practical foreign currency; USD is second; bring enough cash from Antananarivo before heading into any rural area

Madagascar operates almost entirely on cash. The Malagasy Ariary (MGA) is the official currency (replaced the Malagasy Franc in 2005), but note that some older vendors in rural areas still quote prices in the old franc system — 1 ariary = 5 iraimbilanja. EUR is the most useful foreign currency given Madagascar's French-speaking heritage and is accepted at many upscale hotels and lodges in lieu of MGA. USD is the second most practical. Exchange at licensed bureaux de change in Antananarivo's Tsaralalana district or at BFV-SG, BNI Madagascar, and BOA (Bank of Africa) branches for competitive rates. Hotel exchange desks offer significantly worse rates. Approximate rates: 1 EUR ≈ MGA 4,800–5,200; 1 USD ≈ MGA 4,400–4,800 (rates fluctuate — verify on arrival).

ATMs exist only in Antananarivo and a handful of coastal cities — withdraw generously before leaving Tana; rural areas, national parks, and most of Nosy Be's smaller beaches are cashless voids

ATM coverage is severely limited outside Antananarivo (Tana). BFV-SG (Société Générale), BNI Madagascar, AccèsBanque, and BOA have ATMs in Tana that accept Visa and Mastercard. Some ATMs exist in Toamasina (Tamatave), Mahajanga, Toliara, and on Nosy Be island — but reliability is inconsistent and machines frequently run out of notes. There are virtually no ATMs in rural areas, national parks (Ranomafana, Isalo, Andasibe), or on Île Sainte-Marie outside the main village. Strategy: withdraw large amounts before leaving Tana. Maximum per transaction: typically MGA 400,000–600,000. Foreign card fees: MGA 5,000–10,000 per transaction plus home bank charges.

Card acceptance is extremely limited — only upscale hotels in Tana and Nosy Be beach resorts accept Visa; no Apple Pay or Google Pay anywhere; cash is king throughout the country

Visa cards are accepted at five-star hotels in Antananarivo (Hôtel Colbert, Radisson Blu), major Nosy Be resort complexes, and a small number of upscale restaurants in Tana. Mastercard acceptance is less reliable. Apple Pay and Google Pay have no functional infrastructure in Madagascar — NFC payment terminals are essentially non-existent outside the capital's handful of international hotels. Mobile money (MVola via Telma, Airtel Money) is widely used by Malagasy locals but requires a local SIM and is not accessible to tourists in practice. For any travel outside Tana — national parks, coastal towns, Île Sainte-Marie, village markets — cash in MGA is the only option.

Extremely affordable: street snacks MGA 500–2,000; local restaurant meal MGA 5,000–15,000; guide tip USD 5–10/day; taxi in Tana MGA 5,000–15,000; budget hotel MGA 40,000–80,000

Madagascar is one of the most affordable destinations in the world in absolute terms. Street food (vary — rice dishes, sambosa, mofo gasy rice cakes) costs MGA 500–2,000. A full meal at a local hotely (simple restaurant) runs MGA 5,000–15,000 per person. Mid-range restaurants in Tana or Nosy Be: MGA 20,000–50,000 per person. Beer (Three Horses Beer, the national brand): MGA 3,000–5,000. Taxi in Tana: MGA 5,000–15,000 (always agree the fare before getting in). Taxi-brousse (shared minibus) between towns is the main intercity transport option and costs very little. Budget hotel/guesthouse: MGA 40,000–80,000/night. Tipping guides and drivers is strongly expected: USD 5–10 per guide per day per group is the norm for wildlife tours.