Madagascar
Currency in Madagascar: what to use and how to exchange
Madagascar uses the Malagasy ariary (MGA). Bring euro or US dollar cash in clean, recent notes and change it in Antananarivo or a major town bank, because ATMs run dry and cards work only in hotels and larger shops. Change money before you leave the capital for the RN7 or the west.
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GuideMadagascar
Key facts
- Currency
- Malagasy ariary (MGA); 1 ariary = 5 iraimbilanja
- Best cash to bring
- Euro or US dollar notes, clean and unmarked
- Where to change
- Banks and exchange offices in Antananarivo; banks Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00, closed weekends
- Cards
- Accepted in hotels and larger shops in Tana; rarely elsewhere
- ATMs
- Can run dry, especially outside Tana; withdraw early
- Cash for the road
- Change enough before the RN7, west or north; ariary is the only practical cash
- Pricescheck
- 2026 estimate; small notes useful for markets and tips
Details
The ariary is the everyday currency. Older price lists and some hotels still quote in Malagasy francs (1 ariary = 5 francs), so when a number looks five times too big, it is probably in francs. Ask which unit is meant before you agree a price.
Cash is the working currency. Banks and exchange offices in Antananarivo give the best rates and are open Monday to Friday, about 08:00–16:00, closed at weekends. Outside the capital, exchange options thin out fast: a bank in Antsirabe, Toliara or Morondava may be your last reliable counter before a long drive. Change more than you think you need before heading out on the RN7, to the Tsingy or north to Nosy Be.
Cards work in hotels, larger shops and some restaurants in Tana and tourist areas, but not at market stalls, taxi-brousses, park gates or roadside stops. Treat the card as a backup, not a plan. ATMs exist in towns but can run dry, and a failed withdrawal in a small town can leave you short for days. Carry a second card and a cash reserve.
Bring euro or US dollar notes that are clean, unmarked and not torn; worn notes are often refused. Smaller denominations are easier to change. You will receive ariary, and the largest notes are worth a lot in local terms, so break them at a bank or a shop rather than a market stall.
For day-to-day spending, keep a mix: small ariary notes for markets, taxi-brousses and tips, and larger notes for hotels and park fees. Tipping norms on the country page run from 2,000–5,000 ariary a bag for porters to €5–10 a day for a driver on a long trip.
Summary table
| Item | What to expect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Malagasy ariary (MGA) | Some prices still quoted in francs; 1 ariary = 5 francs |
| Best cash to bring | Euro or US dollar | Clean, unmarked, untorn notes |
| Where to change | Banks and exchange offices | Best in Antananarivo; Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00, closed weekends |
| Cards | Hotels and larger shops in Tana | Rarely accepted elsewhere |
| ATMs | Towns, mainly Tana | Can run dry; withdraw early and keep a backup card |
| Cash for the road | Change before the RN7, west or north | Ariary is the only practical cash outside towns |
| Small notes | Useful for markets, taxi-brousse and tips | Break large notes at banks or shops |
Rates and acceptance change; confirm locally (check).
Tips
- Change money in Antananarivo before any long drive; banks close at weekends.
- Carry clean euro or US dollar notes; torn or marked notes are often refused.
- Keep small ariary notes for markets, taxi-brousses and tips.
- Carry two cards and a cash reserve; ATMs can run dry outside Tana.
- Ask whether a price is in ariary or francs before agreeing.
- Budget in ariary for park fees, guides and drivers; cards rarely work there.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Madagascar?
The Malagasy ariary (MGA). One ariary is divided into five iraimbilanja, though those coins are rarely used. Some hotels and price lists still quote in Malagasy francs, so check which unit is meant before you agree a price.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Madagascar?
Banks and exchange offices in Antananarivo give the best rates, open Monday to Friday about 08:00–16:00 and closed at weekends. Outside the capital, options thin out, so change enough before the RN7, the west or the north.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Madagascar?
Bring cash. Cards work in hotels and larger shops in Tana and tourist areas, but not at markets, taxi-brousses, park gates or roadside stops. ATMs can run dry, so treat cards as a backup and carry a cash reserve.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialMadagascar National Tourism Board
- officialCentral Bank of Madagascar
- secondaryWikivoyage – Madagascar