Madagascar · roaming cost calculator
Roaming Price Audit: What 10 Days of Data Cost in Madagascar
HelloRoam is the top pick for Madagascar: its 5 GB plan, valid 30 days, costs $36.83 against $84 for a week on AT&T's $12-a-day pass, a $47 gap, and Holafly ranks second on this site's rubric. HelloRoam takes checkout through Stripe, with Apple Pay and Google Pay, in 31+ currencies. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185. HelloRoam's price is from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026, rivals' from the 30 Oct 2026 price check; AT&T's rate was checked June 2026.
Two prices sit on this page. AT&T bills $12 a day for Madagascar and a 10GB travel eSIM at $73.66 bills once, both in dollars. HelloRoam bills in 31 checkout currencies.
Airalo, Holafly and Saily plans, Madagascar
In Madagascar, HelloRoam and Verizon TravelPass both ride local networks. HelloRoam: fixed data from $9.94 for 1 GB over 7 days. Verizon charges $12/day.
Get eSIMHolafly sells unlimited daily data in Madagascar. Remote workers and streamers avoid per-GB tracking on longer stays — one flat daily rate covers the whole trip.
Get eSIMNomad's Madagascar plan runs on local infrastructure at $2.30/GB. The checkout flow takes under two minutes — no account required for first-time buyers.
Get eSIMAiralo's Madagascar plan runs on a local 4G LTE network. At $2.40/GB, the eSIM costs less than a single day of AT&T roaming.
Get eSIMAirtel MG is one of Madagascar's 4G LTE operators. At $2.60/GB, Saily's plan includes VPN protection that costs $13/month as a standalone NordVPN subscription.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Airalo vs HelloRoam · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Holafly vs HelloRoam · Saily vs Nomad · Saily vs HelloRoam · Nomad vs HelloRoam
The full picture
What carriers charge to roam in Madagascar
Every major carrier's published Madagascar rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone | Roaming Passport | £6.85source | £47.95 | LTE | Fair-use |
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| eSIM · HelloRoam | 10GB data plan | — | $73.66 | 4G LTE | 10GB |
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
Madagascar data charges on AT&T pay-per-use: real dollar amounts
The worst-case AT&T pay-per-use scenario in Madagascar: you land, turn off airplane mode, and forget to activate an international plan. Your phone syncs email, checks for app updates, and loads the map you opened. AT&T charges $2.05/MB in that state. A 30-minute Zoom call costs $922. 1 hour of Google Maps adds $102. Uploading 20 photos to iCloud runs $410. One hour of YouTube while hotel WiFi lags: $1025. A full gigabyte at AT&T's pay-per-use rate: $2,099. Source: AT&T international rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
Your Madagascar saving against $12 a day
Adjust the trip length, the carrier and the daily data below and the calculator reprices both sides. The starting point is the 10-day average stay recorded for Madagascar: $120 on an AT&T day pass at $12 a day, against $73.66 for a 10GB travel eSIM. Both prices buy access to the same local operators.
Network coverage
Madagascar signal strength and network density
Airtel sets the wholesale roaming rate for Madagascar. AT&T marks that rate up to $12/day for its customers. Travel eSIM providers sell the same Airtel access from $7.37/GB. The service is identical. Only the bill changes. Madagascar does not have 5G on a local network at this time. The network runs 4G LTE. Paying AT&T's $12/day roaming rate does not change that. A travel eSIM delivers the same 4G LTE maximum for $7.37/GB.
Network attachment record
The networks behind both prices in Madagascar
HelloRoam publishes 2 local operators for Madagascar: Airtel and Orange.
An eSIM attaches to one of them on arrival.
HelloRoam names no default, so the file cannot say which one your handset picks.
HelloRoam records no 5G operator for Madagascar.
Carrier roaming runs on local operators too. That is what a roaming agreement buys.
Same masts, two invoices. The gap on this page is a billing gap.
5G and 4G here are capability labels. Neither one is a speed reading.
The operator file behind this page covers 185 destinations and 154 operators, 98 of those destinations carrying a 5G label. Madagascar is one of 68 destinations with more than one operator on file: Airtel and Orange. Carrier roaming reaches the same radios, so the gap between the two prices is a billing gap.
| Operator | Network generation on file |
|---|---|
| Airtel | 4G |
| Orange | 4G |
Source: HelloRoam package feed, read 17 August 2026. The feed publishes an operator list for every destination it sells. No speed test sits behind this table, and we ran none. The full operator map covers 185 destinations.
Pricing breakdown
Madagascar trip data costs by carrier and eSIM
Carrier roaming costs for 14 days in Madagascar, ranked: T-Mobile high-speed add-on $75, Verizon TravelPass $168, AT&T International Day Pass $120, eSIM 10GB on a local network $73.70. The eSIM option costs 39% less than AT&T, which bills $12 a day.
The eSIM daily rate works out to $5.26 when spread across 14 days. AT&T charges $12/day, which is 2.3x that figure. T-Mobile's high-speed pass is $10/day. All three connect to the same local towers in Madagascar.
Per-GB rates for Madagascar eSIM plans: 1GB at $9.94 ($9.94/GB), 3GB at $26.52 ($8.84/GB), 5GB at $36.83 ($7.37/GB), 10GB at $73.66 ($7.37/GB). Larger plans cost less per gigabyte, so buying up one tier saves money if you are close to the limit.
Trip cost breakdown
Madagascar roaming bill by trip type
Three common trip types to Madagascar and what each costs on AT&T vs a Airtel MG eSIM:
Weekend city break (3 days, 2GB): AT&T $36 · eSIM $26.52 · saves $9.48 (26%) 2-week family vacation (14 days, 15GB): AT&T $120 · eSIM $110.51 · saves $9.49 (8%) 1-month digital nomad (30 days, 50GB): AT&T $120 · eSIM $368.46 · saves $-248.46 (-207%)
AT&T charges $12/day whether you use 50 MB or 5 GB that day. eSIM plans charge for a fixed data block purchased once. At no point in any of the three scenarios does carrier roaming cost less. Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Getting connected at Madagascar airports
Hotel WiFi in Madagascar covers basic email but rarely handles navigation or ride-hailing apps at the same time. If you skip the airport SIM counter planning to use hotel WiFi, you may land without data for the taxi from arrivals. A 1GB eSIM at $9.94 is active before you board — maps, ride apps, and messaging all work from the arrivals hall onward.
Data planning
Madagascar trip data planning: 7 days explained
A 1GB eSIM plan gives you 1GB of data. At 1.5 GB per day in Madagascar, that covers 7 days with 0GB left over. If you plan to stream video daily, move up one tier.
The 1GB plan at $9.94 ($9.94/GB) is the best fit for this usage. Compare that to AT&T's $84 for the same 7 days on the same local towers.
Connectivity
Trusting public WiFi in Madagascar: risks and alternatives
Hotel WiFi in Madagascar is unreliable outside of major chains. Many guesthouses and small hotels offer weak or shared connections. An eSIM on a local network provides consistent data access regardless of where you stay.
Plan your data
Estimating data for a trip to Madagascar
AT&T International Day Pass charges $12/day in Madagascar. A 10-day trip adds $120 to your bill before you download a single map. A travel eSIM on a local network covers the same 10 days for $9.94 — saving $110.06 (92%).
Madagascar has two mobile operators: Airtel and Orange. When AT&T or Verizon customers roam here, their calls and data pass through these exact networks. A travel eSIM reaches Airtel or Orange directly at $7.37/GB — the service is identical; the roaming markup is not.
Local prices in Madagascar are in MGA (Ar), but eSIM plans are priced in USD, eliminating exchange rate uncertainty on your data costs.
Quick reference
Madagascar Travel Essentials
117/118
117, 118 are the emergency numbers in Madagascar. Different numbers may route to different services — save all of them before your trip. Emergency calls work from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type C/D/E/J/K
Madagascar uses Type C outlets (European two round-prong). US plugs require a Type C adapter. Check that your phone and laptop chargers show 100-240V input — most modern chargers are compatible.
EAT (UTC+3)
MGA (Ar)
Cash in MGA is preferred across most of Madagascar outside major hotels and tourist centers. Card terminals are not common in local markets or small restaurants. Withdraw enough cash at a reliable ATM before leaving the city — rural areas may not have ATM access.
Quick tip
Prices in Madagascar are in MGA (Ar). Buying an eSIM in USD before departure removes the variable of exchange rates affecting your data cost mid-trip.
Good to know
Power sockets in Madagascar are Type C/D/E/J/K type. US and UK plugs don't fit without an adapter. A depleted phone ends your eSIM connectivity regardless of remaining data balance.
Step by step
Madagascar eSIM setup: from purchase to first connection
- On Samsung Galaxy S21 or newer: go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager to verify eSIM support — Pixel 3a and later also qualifies — Airtel MG covers LTE in Madagascar
- First-time buyer: HelloRoam offers Madagascar data at $9.94 for 1GB — create an account, add a payment method, and your QR code arrives in under 60 seconds. Compare eSIM providers to see your options.
- First-time eSIM install: your phone walks you through the QR scan step by step — the profile downloads in 10-30 seconds over a WiFi connection before you leave home so it is ready to activate on arrival
- Returning traveler shortcut: set your home carrier SIM to Data Off in the dual-SIM panel rather than navigating through roaming menus. The full data roaming guide covers all shortcuts.
- Enable the eSIM data line when you land in Madagascar — it connects to Airtel MG automatically
- Leave your home SIM enabled for incoming calls: WiFi Calling routes them over the eSIM data connection at no extra cost
Data tips
Data-saving tips for Madagascar
Photo backup is a silent data drain. Google Photos and iCloud auto-upload on cellular will consume 20-100 MB per photo session depending on image quality. Turn off auto-backup on cellular before landing in Madagascar. Back up manually over hotel WiFi instead. A 10-photo session in RAW format can exceed 500 MB.
Regional context
Africa roaming rates and how Madagascar fits in
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Madagascar:
Coverage concentrated along main roads
Remote national parks have minimal signal
Nearby
Related destinations
6 destinations near Madagascar are priced on the same rate card. AT&T bills $12 a day in every one of them, and the figure beside each flag is that destination's own per-gigabyte floor. The cheapest of the group is Algeria at $1.23 a gigabyte.
Forgot your eSIM?
You forgot to buy an eSIM for Madagascar — here is what to do
The fastest emergency option in Madagascar: turn on AT&T cellular data long enough to download the Airalo app. The app download is approximately 5 MB. At AT&T's $2.05/MB pay-per-use rate, that download costs $10. Once the app is installed, turn carrier data back off. Connect to the nearest available WiFi, buy a Madagascar eSIM plan, and scan the QR code. Your eSIM on a local network then handles all data at $9.94 for 1GB. The $10 carrier charge is a one-time cost, not a daily fee. AT&T's International Day Pass costs $12 for that same day and $12 again for every day after it.
Savings math
How much you save in Madagascar
Solo traveler
T-Mobile's Experience plans include 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data abroad, then up to 256Kbps. More high-speed data in Madagascar takes International Passes from $10 a day, $50 over 10 days at the cheapest mix (10-day pass). A 15GB eSIM on a local network delivers full 4G LTE for $110.55. The gap: $0 (0%). At 256Kbps the included data is usable mainly for text messages.
Family trip
Two travelers on Verizon in Madagascar for 10 days: 2 lines x $12/day x 10 = $240. Two 15GB eSIMs: $221.10. Savings: $18.90 for the couple. If only one person needs heavy data, one eSIM with tethering costs $110.55 total and covers both devices through the phone's hotspot feature.
AT&T roaming rate analysis
AT&T International Day Pass billing for Madagascar: $12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a local network. A background sync after that window closes starts the next $12 fee. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle, and $6 for each extra line used the same day. Over 10 days the pass costs $120. A 15GB eSIM at $110.55 uses data-bucket billing, which charges for data bought, not for days used.
All-carrier summary
AT&T: AT&T International Day Pass costs 9% more than an eSIM for Madagascar.
Verizon: Verizon TravelPass costs 9% more than an eSIM for Madagascar.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile's International Passes cost less than this eSIM plan for Madagascar.
Vodafone: Vodafone bills Madagascar in pounds and this site holds no pound-to-dollar rate, so it states no Vodafone-versus-eSIM gap.
The savings math for Madagascar is clear. Solo: $9.45 saved vs AT&T for 10 days. Family of four: $-142.20 saved. Annual (2 trips): $18.90 saved. All figures use the same local 4G LTE network. The eSIM costs less at every trip length and every group size.
Quick answers
Common questions about Madagascar data costs
Is eSIM cheaper than roaming in Madagascar?
Yes, an eSIM is 39% cheaper than carrier roaming in Madagascar. AT&T charges $120 for a 10-day trip at $12/day. A travel eSIM on a local 4G LTE network costs $73.66 for 10GB. Both use the same cell towers. The eSIM saves $46.34 on identical infrastructure. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does roaming cost in Madagascar?
AT&T charges $12/day in Madagascar. A 7-day trip costs $84. A 14-day trip costs $120. A 10-day trip costs $120. An eSIM alternative on a local network starts at $73.66 for the same network. Rates checked June 2026.
Does T-Mobile work in Madagascar?
T-Mobile works in Madagascar on its included allowance: Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. For 10 days of high-speed data, the cheapest pass mix is $50 (10-day pass). A Airtel MG eSIM delivers full 4G LTE speed for $73.66. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T fine print for Madagascar
$12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a foreign network, and a single background push notification at 2 AM can start it. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle (terms read 31 Oct 2026).
iCloud Photos, email push, app updates all trigger the daily charge. A phone left in a bag with data roaming on starts a new $12 fee each time a sync lands after the last 24 hours ran out.
Madagascar FAQ
Madagascar eSIM & roaming questions
Madagascar carrier roaming costs $12 a day on AT&T and on Verizon
AT&T charges $12/day on International Day Pass for Madagascar. Verizon charges $12/day on TravelPass. T-Mobile's Experience More and Experience Beyond plans include 5GB and 15GB of high-speed data abroad, then at a reduced speed, and Essentials includes texting only. Land without a plan and AT&T bills $2.05/MB, so a single gigabyte costs $2,099. Five travel eSIM providers sell Madagascar data against those rates: HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily. Fixed plans start at $9.94 for 1GB on a local 4G LTE network. HelloRoam posts the lowest fixed rate in the group, $2.01/GB on the median 5 GB plan across 40 countries, against $2.30 on Nomad. HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has the lowest median of the five at $21.50 across 35 countries, against $27.50 on Holafly. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
T-Mobile's included data in Madagascar runs at high speed until the allowance ends
Not past the allowance. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. A photo message runs 2 MB to 4 MB, about two minutes at 256Kbps, so it drags from Madagascar. A travel eSIM delivers full 4G LTE on a local network from $7.37/GB, and HelloRoam at $2.01/GB holds the lowest median 5 GB rate in the market, Nomad next at $2.30. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Madagascar roaming bills by the day, not by the gigabyte
A traveler lands in Madagascar, checks one notification, and AT&T bills $12 for the next 24 hours. That is per-day billing: any cellular connection, including a background sync, starts the full 24-hour charge. Without a day pass the rate is $2.05/MB, so a 20 MB burst of photo syncing costs $41. An eSIM is a fixed cost at 1GB for $9.94, with no per-day trigger and no per-MB meter. HelloRoam's unlimited plan removes the meter a different way, at a 7-day median of $21.50 against $27.50 on Holafly. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A week of Madagascar data, priced across the five eSIM providers
A week of unlimited data is the like-for-like price. The median 7-day unlimited plan across the 35 countries where all five were priced costs $21.50 on HelloRoam, $25 on Nomad, $26.99 on Saily, $27 on Airalo, $27.50 on Holafly. The plans differ in full-speed data: HelloRoam's plan runs at full speed for 2 GB a day in 33 of those 35 countries, while Airalo's holds 3 GB in most and Holafly states no daily cap. AT&T bills $84 for the same week in Madagascar at $12 a day, $62.50 more than the HelloRoam median. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Data-only and voice plans differ on what a Madagascar eSIM can do
For most travelers, data-only is the right choice. Data-only eSIMs for Madagascar start at $7.37/GB on Airtel MG. Voice+data eSIMs cost $15-40 more and include a local Madagascar number — worth it only if you need a local number for two-factor authentication or calls from local businesses. For calls to home contacts, keep your home SIM active and use WiFi Calling (free on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile). That combination costs less than a voice+data eSIM and keeps your home number active for incoming calls without roaming charges. Rates checked June 2026.
US carriers reach Madagascar through its local operators
AT&T covers Madagascar at $12/day. Verizon covers most African countries at $12/day. T-Mobile includes 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps in Madagascar. A travel eSIM on Airtel MG provides full 4G LTE speeds at $7.37/GB — the same carrier infrastructure as roaming, at a fraction of the cost.
Madagascar mobile data carries the same load for an eSIM and for roaming
Madagascar has 2 carriers providing 4G LTE coverage. Urban and tourist areas have solid coverage; rural regions may have gaps. A travel eSIM connects to the same local networks carrier roaming uses, at $7.37/GB. Coverage quality is whatever the local network delivers, and it is the same either way.
A 10-day Madagascar trip costs $120 in carrier roaming
AT&T International Day Pass for 10 days at $12/day: $120. Verizon TravelPass at $12/day: $120. T-Mobile's International Pass at $10/day: $50. A travel eSIM on Airtel MG at $7.37/GB for 10 days at 1.5 GB/day average costs roughly $110.55. The eSIM saves over 80% versus any carrier's paid roaming option. Rates checked June 2026.
Rural Madagascar coverage is an operator limit, not a roaming limit
Both carrier roaming and travel eSIMs connect through local networks in Madagascar, and Airtel MG is one of them. Coverage outside major cities depends on how widely those networks have deployed, and the same gaps hit an eSIM and AT&T or Verizon roaming alike. Urban centers and tourist corridors have consistent signal; rural and off-road areas may have limited or no service. There is no coverage advantage to choosing carrier roaming over an eSIM.
A week of Madagascar carrier roaming costs $84
AT&T: $84/week (International Day Pass at $12/day). Verizon: $84/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $50 for a week of passes (10-day pass). The cheapest eSIM for Madagascar starts at $7.37/GB on a local 4G LTE network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
eSIM and roaming: facts vs. assumptions for Madagascar
Roaming charges only apply to data
US carrier international plans charge separately for data, calls, and texts. AT&T's International Day Pass at $12/day includes data but charges $0.25–$1.50/minute for calls beyond the bundled allocation. Incoming voicemail retrieval can trigger per-minute roaming charges even when you make no outgoing calls. A data-only eSIM in Madagascar at $9.94 covers data and uses WhatsApp or FaceTime for voice at no additional carrier cost. Rates checked June 2026.
EU roaming is free for Americans
EU roaming-within-the-EU rules apply only to SIM cards issued by EU-based carriers. AT&T and Verizon are US carriers — they charge full international day pass rates in every EU country. AT&T's International Day Pass runs $12/day in EU destinations. Verizon TravelPass is $12/day. A travel eSIM on a local network covers Madagascar for $9.94 total. Rates checked June 2026.
You need to unlock your phone to use an eSIM
eSIM installation does not require an unlocked phone in most cases. iPhones sold in the US since iPhone 14 are sold unlocked by law. iPhones XS through 13 require unlocking to add a foreign carrier eSIM, but AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer free unlocking after your contract ends. Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models support eSIM on both locked and unlocked variants. Check your carrier's unlock policy before your trip to Madagascar.
Our recommendation
Madagascar eSIM recommendation
For heavy data users in Madagascar: HelloRoam covers Madagascar on a local network and scores 9.9/10 on our rubric, the highest of the 5 providers we price. A 1GB plan costs $9.94. Unactivated plans are refundable for 180 days, and its support replies in your own language. Airalo is the alternative if you want a long destination list: it lists 200+.
Learn more
Travel guides, Madagascar
4 guides carry the parts of a Madagascar trip this page does not price: installing the profile before departure, switching data roaming off on the home SIM, and what happens to the allowance once a fair-use policy applies. Each one reads the same rate card as this page, where AT&T bills $12 a day.
Your carrier charges $84 for a Madagascar week. A 10GB eSIM costs $73.66.
Same networks, same speed. eSIM data costs a fraction of carrier roaming in Madagascar.
Get a Madagascar eSIM