Cost of Living Comparison Between Monrovia, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Monrovia, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,535 per month in Monrovia, CA vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,580 per month in Monrovia, CA vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,626 per month in Monrovia, CA vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Monrovia, CA costs about 80% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Monrovia, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Monrovia, CA by 89%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.05 $15.05

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

340.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 $34.42

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

4.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

97.83%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

72.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

44.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

190.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.16 $8.16

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

174.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.03 $9.03

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

130.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

-38.29%

White Bread (500g)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

123.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

274.38%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

95.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 $11.10

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

-23.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

2.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

22.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

65.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

14.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

-17.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

18.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

96.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 $9.65

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

203.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.82 $9.82

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

-57.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

-40.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

71.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.29 Rp 5,022

579.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.13 $20.13

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

138.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$0.49 Rp 8,344

710.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 $2.80

$0.45 Rp 7,812

522.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.16 $32.16

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

412.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

51.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.2K $22.2K

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

-14.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K $21.8K

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

-30.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$198 $198

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

148.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.6 $53.6

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

1209.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 $50.8

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

111.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.04 $43.04

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

-55.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 $13.76

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

233.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,859 $1,859

$297 Rp 5.1M

526.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.4K $40.4K

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

507.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.09 $15.09

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

-72.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.90 $40.90

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

5.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 $76.9

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

-14.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

98.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

58.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,336 $1,336

$660 Rp 11.3M

102.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,633 $2,633

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

-23.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 $2,180

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

6.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 $2,317

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

-22.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,388 $2,388

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

0.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,051 $6,051

$172 Rp 3.0M

3416.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

13.28

-49.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Monrovia, CA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,619 in Monrovia, CA versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3417% higher in Monrovia, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34 in Monrovia, CA versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $299 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Monrovia, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,535 in Monrovia, CA, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 80% apart. Monrovia, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,802 per month in Monrovia, CA and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Monrovia, CA and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,535 in Monrovia, CA and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Monrovia, CA at $2,535. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monrovia, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,535 in Monrovia, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monrovia, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.