🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,383 in Monrovia versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,463 in Monrovia versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,543 in Monrovia versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Monrovia costs roughly 2% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monrovia3% above, Ubud, Bali4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.30LRD 1,324
$3.57Rp 64.0K
104.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$152LRD 27.6K
$32.50Rp 582.3K
368.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.07LRD 2,007
$4.86Rp 87.1K
127.78%
Cappuccino
$3.32LRD 601
$2.75Rp 49.2K
20.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97LRD 357
$1.32Rp 23.7K
49.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63LRD 477
$0.70Rp 12.6K
275.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.69LRD 487
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-7.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02LRD 547
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14LRD 389
$1.71Rp 30.6K
25.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83LRD 331
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-25.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.27LRD 955
$1.20Rp 21.5K
339.17%
Eggs
$3.57LRD 647
$2.44Rp 43.8K
46.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.86LRD 2,151
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-17.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.94LRD 2,165
$4.31Rp 77.1K
177.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.73LRD 6,480
$12.21Rp 218.7K
192.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66LRD 301
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-54.89%
Banana(1kg)
$8.49LRD 1,541
$1.55Rp 27.8K
447.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$10.23LRD 1,856
$2.79Rp 49.9K
266.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.16LRD 2,023
$2.33Rp 41.8K
378.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23LRD 405
$1.97Rp 35.3K
13.20%
Onion(1kg)
$10.60LRD 1,922
$2.31Rp 41.4K
358.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.58LRD 830
$1.06Rp 19.1K
332.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97LRD 357
$0.73Rp 13.1K
169.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.90LRD 889
$3.28Rp 58.8K
49.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.82LRD 1,236
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-70.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43LRD 441
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-13.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33LRD 604
$2.78Rp 49.9K
19.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92LRD 530
$0.29Rp 5,217
906.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.78LRD 3,586
$8.06Rp 144.4K
145.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73LRD 495
$0.45Rp 8,047
506.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25LRD 227
$0.45Rp 8,094
177.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.33LRD 3,143
$6.24Rp 111.7K
177.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LRD 229
$0.85Rp 15.2K
48.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5KLRD 2.3M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-51.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9KLRD 2.7M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-52.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$270LRD 49.0K
$80.8Rp 1.4M
234.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.13LRD 4,014
$4.06Rp 72.7K
445.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$95.0LRD 17.2K
$24.42Rp 437.6K
288.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.5LRD 13.7K
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-22.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.23LRD 1,492
$6.45Rp 115.5K
27.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.95LRD 1,805
$4.04Rp 72.4K
146.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131LRD 23.8K
$304Rp 5.4M
-56.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$895LRD 162.3K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-86.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.05LRD 3,274
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-66.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.15LRD 6,192
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-11.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.9LRD 10.3K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-33.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9LRD 12.3K
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$676LRD 122.7K
$986Rp 17.7M
-31.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.6LRD 17.5K
$658Rp 11.8M
-85.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,858LRD 336.9K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-44.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$266LRD 48.2K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-87.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$713LRD 129.3K
$163Rp 2.9M
336.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.28
-62.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monrovia: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $676 in Monrovia and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monrovia pays 336% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $152 in Monrovia vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $536 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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 vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monrovia or Ubud, Bali?
Monrovia wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Monrovia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Monrovia or Ubud, Bali?
Monrovia pays 336% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Monrovia vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $676 in Monrovia versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Monrovia vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Monrovia runs roughly 145% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Monrovia and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $131 in Monrovia versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Monrovia or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,383 in Monrovia versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Monrovia but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Monrovia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Monrovia or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Monrovia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,383 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monrovia hard to pass up.
How safe is Monrovia compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Monrovia and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Monrovia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.