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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Monrovia versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,467 in Monrovia versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,542 in Monrovia versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Monrovia costs roughly 3% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monrovia 4% above, Ubud, Bali 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.48 LRD 1,377
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
109.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$149 LRD 27.4K
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
356.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 LRD 1,989
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
113.21%
Cappuccino
$3.34 LRD 615
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
18.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 LRD 377
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
52.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 LRD 499
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
292.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 LRD 510
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-7.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 LRD 545
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-23.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 LRD 398
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
24.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 LRD 324
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-30.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.09 LRD 936
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
327.73%
Eggs
$3.67 LRD 674
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
51.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.83 LRD 2,177
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-19.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.95 LRD 2,199
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
185.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$36.17 LRD 6,655
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
202.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 LRD 306
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-55.01%
Banana (1kg)
$8.24 LRD 1,516
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
411.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$10.24 LRD 1,883
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
280.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$10.92 LRD 2,010
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
368.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 LRD 413
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
17.28%
Onion (1kg)
$10.58 LRD 1,946
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
383.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.58 LRD 843
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
332.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 LRD 362
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
173.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.04 LRD 927
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
61.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 LRD 1,313
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-69.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 LRD 470
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-6.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 LRD 614
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
15.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 LRD 537
$0.29 Rp 5,010
906.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.95 LRD 3,670
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
144.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 LRD 497
$0.45 Rp 7,834
500.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 LRD 231
$0.42 Rp 7,278
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.45 LRD 3,211
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
183.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 LRD 223
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
44.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4K LRD 2.3M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-52.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K LRD 2.7M
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-54.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 LRD 50.2K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
248.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.91 LRD 4,215
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
480.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.4 LRD 17.0K
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
278.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 LRD 14.1K
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-20.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.15 LRD 1,500
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
28.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 LRD 1,819
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
144.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 LRD 23.6K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-57.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$910 LRD 167.5K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-86.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.68 LRD 3,438
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-65.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.89 LRD 6,235
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-10.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.7 LRD 10.2K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-35.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1 LRD 12.7K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-12.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 LRD 123.8K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-33.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.8 LRD 17.6K
$674 Rp 11.6M
-85.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,808 LRD 332.6K
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 LRD 49.2K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-87.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 LRD 127.8K
$173 Rp 3.0M
301.18%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Monrovia and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monrovia pays 301% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $149 in Monrovia vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $535 vs $298 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 3% 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 301% 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: $673 in Monrovia versus $1,012 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 144% 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 $128 in Monrovia versus $303 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 $1,392 in Monrovia versus $1,438 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 $1,392 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 3% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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