Malagasy blogger
Tojo Fehizoro [1] posted a spreadsheet that summarized the minimum cost of basic supplies for a Malagasy family of 4 with 2 children, 10 and 7 years old respectively. The spreadsheet lists the cost and description of each item [2] [mg] and the combined salary of both parents:
[2]The budget of a family of 4 in Madagascar – with permission
Monthly Income
- Monthly salary of father : 78 USD/month
- Monthly salary of mother : 72 USD/month
- Total : 150 USD
Monthly expenses
- Public transportation (bus for 4) : 34.3 USD
- Breakfast (for 4): 16 USD
- Lunch (for 4): 51 USD
- Supper (for 4): 21 USD
- Snack for children : 4 USD
- Rent : 30 USD
- Electricity and water : 13 USD
- school fees : 21 USD
- Charcoal : 6 USD
- Soap : 1.5 USD
- Salt : .38 USD
- Cooking oil : 2.2 USD
- Sugar : 1.03 USD
- Total : 233.82 USD
Given the information above, Tojo then asks how exactly are they supposed to pay for school supplies, clothes and medications for children.
* the conversion rate from Malagasy Ariary to US Dollars is 1,000 MGA = 0.42 USD (the exchange rate can be found here [3])