🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,300 in Monrovia versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,887 in Monrovia versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,474 in Monrovia versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Monrovia costs roughly 5% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Monrovia is 5% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.39LRD 1,273
$3.44Rp 61.0K
114.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$36.31Rp 644.2K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.06LRD 1,907
$5.71Rp 101.2K
93.70%
Cappuccino
$3.04LRD 524
$2.67Rp 47.4K
13.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94LRD 335
$1.75Rp 31.0K
10.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04LRD 351
$0.87Rp 15.5K
134.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.04LRD 696
$2.95Rp 52.4K
36.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02LRD 521
$4.52Rp 80.2K
-33.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15LRD 370
$1.62Rp 28.7K
32.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81LRD 313
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-22.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.25LRD 905
$1.11Rp 19.6K
372.97%
Eggs
$3.68LRD 634
$2.20Rp 39.0K
67.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.94LRD 1,368
$17.69Rp 313.9K
-55.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.75LRD 2,025
$4.10Rp 72.7K
186.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53LRD 2,331
$12.18Rp 216.0K
11.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60LRD 276
$3.71Rp 65.8K
-56.87%
Banana(1kg)
$8.23LRD 1,418
$1.59Rp 28.2K
417.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$10.28LRD 1,771
$2.28Rp 40.5K
350.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.10LRD 1,913
$1.95Rp 34.7K
469.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17LRD 375
$1.91Rp 33.8K
13.61%
Onion(1kg)
$10.77LRD 1,856
$2.33Rp 41.4K
362.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.76LRD 821
$1.01Rp 17.9K
371.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99LRD 342
$0.55Rp 9,791
261.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12LRD 883
$2.23Rp 39.6K
129.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02LRD 1,211
$23.07Rp 409.3K
-69.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53LRD 435
$2.42Rp 42.9K
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53LRD 608
$3.00Rp 53.2K
17.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09LRD 532
$0.27Rp 4,823
1044.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.12LRD 3,468
$8.98Rp 159.4K
124.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.95LRD 335
$0.48Rp 8,582
306.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81LRD 313
$0.43Rp 7,693
320.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.79LRD 4,273
$5.64Rp 100.1K
339.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27LRD 220
$0.80Rp 14.3K
58.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KLRD 3.4M
$24.9KRp 442.5M
-21.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0KLRD 2.6M
$31.7KRp 562.6M
-52.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149LRD 25.8K
$81.5Rp 1.4M
83.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.31LRD 3,846
$6.49Rp 115.2K
243.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$183LRD 31.5K
$18.77Rp 333.0K
873.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.8LRD 10.8K
$56.9Rp 1.0M
10.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.16LRD 1,751
$18.73Rp 332.3K
-45.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86LRD 838
$4.54Rp 80.5K
7.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$101LRD 17.4K
$481Rp 8.5M
-78.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,018LRD 175.5K
$5,711Rp 101.3M
-82.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.62LRD 4,243
$45.52Rp 807.5K
-45.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.27LRD 5,562
$35.88Rp 636.6K
-10.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.5LRD 9,393
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-32.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8LRD 16.2K
$78.7Rp 1.4M
19.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255LRD 43.9K
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-77.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.3LRD 16.6K
$698Rp 12.4M
-86.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$653LRD 112.5K
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-82.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269LRD 46.4K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-84.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$686LRD 118.3K
$168Rp 3.0M
308.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monrovia: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Monrovia and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monrovia pays 308% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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 5% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 308% higher in Monrovia, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Monrovia versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Monrovia and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $101 in Monrovia versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How expensive is transport in Monrovia compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Monrovia runs roughly 124% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Monrovia or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,300 in Monrovia versus $1,368 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 $1,300 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 5% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.