A Week In Madagascar On A 60,000,000 Ar Salary

Welcome to our new series Mada Life Diaries which was created as a way to see how real people spend their money and time living in Madagascar during one week!

As we will receive many perspectives spanning from all socio-economic backgrounds, our main goal is to confront the taboo around discussing money in the Malagasy culture and normalize uncomfortable conversations about the difference in qualities of life and spending power. ⁠

We hope that by normalizing uncomfortable subjects such as money and showing all aspects of life in Madagascar that it can bring about actionable solutions to fix the divide in Madagascar. ⁠

✨ Would you like to contribute and share your own Mada Life Diary? Contact us directly at madaliving@outlook.com. ✨

‍Today: a business owner who makes an estimated income of 60.000.000 Ariary or $15,842.47 per year drops some serious cash on a new phone and materials for his home studio workshop.

Editor's Note: 1 USD is 3,787.80 Malagasy Ariary (3/30/21). Ar denotes Ariary.

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Occupation:  Business owner

Industry:  Design/building

Age:  30

Gender:  Male

Location:  Antananarivo

Salary:  approximately 60.000.000 Ariary

Pronouns: He/ him

Nationality: Malagasy

Monthly expenses: 

Rent:  none (I own my own house)

Cell phone:  250.000 (internet, calls, etc.)

Gas: 300.000

Domestic workers: 360.000

Total Savings: approximately  1.000.000

What has been your experience living in Madagascar? 

I could not imagine living anywhere else. I love my life in Madagascar. As a business owner, I am proud to create jobs in my community, even if it’s minor compared to large companies.  

I love knowing that my parents are not far, even at my age, they are always supportive with me. I feel the need to return the favor (valim-babena), that’s why being around them is so important to me. We see each other pretty often, almost every day (as they live across the street), my mother sends me dishes and I do the same when I remember to do so (cakes or other treats most of the time).

Madagascar has this way of life you can appreciate and hate at the same time, the Mora Mora way. I hate it in the professional side, but in every other aspect of life, it’s okay, even lovable. When you meet your friends, there’s no pressure, chilling is a national sport.   ‍

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Sunday: 

Morning: wake up at 10am, have breakfast (fruits, eggs and bread with some tea)

Lunch: having lunch with my parents and spend the rest of the day with them (mostly napping in my childhood bedroom haha)

Dinner: like every Sunday, I am having food delivery, it’s gonna be a vegan burger this evening. 25.000 Ar. I fell asleep on the coach, in front of the TV

Daily spending total:  25.000 Ar

Monday: 

Morning: woke up at 6am breakfast, getting ready and gone for work. I have some purchases to do. Spent 500.000 Ar on materials for work. Back to the workshop (which is at home)

Lunch: asked the maid to prepare lunch and gave her 15.000 Ar for groceries.  

Afternoon: I have a meeting this afternoon, on my way, I had to put gas in the car, 60.000 Ar

Dinner: I had the same thing as I had for lunch. Gone to bed soon 9pm

Daily spending total:  575.000 Ar

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Tuesday: 

Morning: woke up at 6am (as everyday) had some fruits for breakfast and lemon green tea. Gone directly to the workshop. Preparing some delivery for the construction site 80.000 Ar. Gone for a meeting with a client at 11am

Lunch: I’m having lunch with a client today. Lunch is on him 0 Ar (yaaaayyy)

Afternoon: spent the 2 hours in the traffic from the restaurant to Ivato, to pick up a package. My phone died. Literally. The screen turned white, seems like it’s irreversible.  

Dinner: too upset for dinner…  

Daily spending total:  80.000 Ar

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Wednesday: 

Morning: woke up at 6am. Workshop.

A friend called and offered to sell me his phone as he heard about my sorrow. I guess it was fate. Haha. On my way to meet him. I bought it. 4.000.000 Ar

Lunch: i’m having lunch at home. Yummy mushrooms.

Afternoon: spent the rest of the day at the construction site.  

Dinner: had dinner at a friend’s place. Gone home at 10pm

Daily spending total:  4.000.000 Ar

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Thursday: 

Morning: woke up at 6am. Today I’m using my new phone for a photo-shoot at the workshop. I’m so excited about it. Pictures are lit!  

Lunch: I joined a friend in town to have lunch with her. 40.000 Ar

Afternoon: another meeting at 3PM. It took 2hours. I’m exhausted.  

Before going home, I stopped by my favorite restaurant to order a pie for tomorrow. 80.000 Ar

Dinner: no dinner. I just decided to fast.  

Daily spending total:  120.000 Ar

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Friday: 

Morning: woke up at 6am. Breakfast, workshop.

We needed some new materials at the workshop as we had new orders. Spent 150.000 ar for them.

Lunch: having lunch at home 0 Ar

Afternoon: I have to pick up the pie I ordered, it’s the dessert I’m bringing for a dinner I’m invited to this evening. Dinner: we’re invited at a friend’s place. Food and drinks for free.

‍Daily spending total:  150.000 Ar

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Saturday:

Morning: n/a

Lunch: n/a

Afternoon: woke up at 1am, BFF and I are having a hangover. We slept at my place. Stayed here all day. Finally we decided to go out for an ice cream at 5pm. Ice cream + drink: 12.000 Ar ‍

Dinner: leftovers haha

‍Daily spending total:  12.000 Ar

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Weekly total spent:  4.962.000 Ar or $1,309.87

Mada Life Diaries only reflects the experiences the individual diarist's experiences and does not reflect MadaLiving's point of view. MadaLiving does not in any way promote and encourage illegal or harmful activities.

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Would you like to contribute and share your own Mada Life Diary? Contact us directly at madaliving@outlook.com.