cost of living.

i realize that i've made several mentions of prices in my blog, but not much in the way of offering a context for what the cost of living is here. here's a small sampling of items in my little corner of madagascar; i live close to the beautiful city of diego in the north, where unfortunately things are more expensive in general because there are more tourists here. all currency is listed in malagasy ariary (AR); currently 2100AR = $1 US, approximately.

bush taxi from my site to diego: 5000AR
night's stay at a gorgeous hotel in diego: 20000AR
small speakers for my ipod: 12000AR

cup of coffee: 200AR
deep-fried banana bread (breakfast): 100AR
bunch of delicious bananas: 500AR
eggs: 400 each
cheese, no refrigeration necessary: 2300AR
cheese, refrigeration necessary: 8000AR

cup of rice: 350AR
cup of peanuts: 250AR
jar of nutella: 9000AR
olive oil: 23000AR
sunflower oil: 2000AR

lunch in my village: 1000AR
lunch in diego, tourist place: 8000-15000AR
lunch in diego, malagasy place: 1000-2000AR

a beer (only one kind in madagascar, shitty): 2000AR
glass of wine: 10000AR

fresh fish: if i catch it myself, which i do most days, free