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: $1,383 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: Monrovia 3% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.30 LRD 1,324
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
104.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$152 LRD 27.6K
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
368.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.07 LRD 2,007
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
127.78%
Cappuccino
$3.32 LRD 601
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
20.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 LRD 357
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
49.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 LRD 477
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
275.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 LRD 487
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-7.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 LRD 547
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 LRD 389
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
25.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 LRD 331
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-25.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.27 LRD 955
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
339.17%
Eggs
$3.57 LRD 647
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
46.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.86 LRD 2,151
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-17.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.94 LRD 2,165
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
177.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.73 LRD 6,480
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
192.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 LRD 301
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-54.89%
Banana (1kg)
$8.49 LRD 1,541
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
447.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$10.23 LRD 1,856
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
266.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$11.16 LRD 2,023
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
378.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 LRD 405
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
13.20%
Onion (1kg)
$10.60 LRD 1,922
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
358.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.58 LRD 830
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
332.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 LRD 357
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
169.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.90 LRD 889
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
49.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.82 LRD 1,236
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-70.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 LRD 441
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-13.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 LRD 604
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
19.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 LRD 530
$0.29 Rp 5,217
906.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.78 LRD 3,586
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
145.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 LRD 495
$0.45 Rp 8,047
506.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 LRD 227
$0.45 Rp 8,094
177.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.33 LRD 3,143
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
177.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 LRD 229
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
48.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5K LRD 2.3M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-51.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9K LRD 2.7M
$31.7K Rp 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)
$270 LRD 49.0K
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
234.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.13 LRD 4,014
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
445.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$95.0 LRD 17.2K
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
288.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.5 LRD 13.7K
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-22.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.23 LRD 1,492
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
27.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.95 LRD 1,805
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
146.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$131 LRD 23.8K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-56.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$895 LRD 162.3K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-86.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.05 LRD 3,274
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-66.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.15 LRD 6,192
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-11.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.9 LRD 10.3K
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-33.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9 LRD 12.3K
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$676 LRD 122.7K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-31.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.6 LRD 17.5K
$658 Rp 11.8M
-85.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,858 LRD 336.9K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-44.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 LRD 48.2K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-87.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$713 LRD 129.3K
$163 Rp 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.

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