🙂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: Monrovia4% above, Ubud, Bali7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.48LRD 1,377
$3.57Rp 61.6K
109.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$149LRD 27.4K
$32.58Rp 562.6K
356.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81LRD 1,989
$5.07Rp 87.5K
113.21%
Cappuccino
$3.34LRD 615
$2.83Rp 48.8K
18.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05LRD 377
$1.34Rp 23.1K
52.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71LRD 499
$0.69Rp 12.0K
292.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77LRD 510
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-7.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96LRD 545
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-23.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17LRD 398
$1.74Rp 30.1K
24.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76LRD 324
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-30.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.09LRD 936
$1.19Rp 20.6K
327.73%
Eggs
$3.67LRD 674
$2.43Rp 41.9K
51.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.83LRD 2,177
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-19.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95LRD 2,199
$4.18Rp 72.1K
185.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$36.17LRD 6,655
$11.94Rp 206.1K
202.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66LRD 306
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-55.01%
Banana(1kg)
$8.24LRD 1,516
$1.61Rp 27.7K
411.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$10.24LRD 1,883
$2.69Rp 46.4K
280.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$10.92LRD 2,010
$2.33Rp 40.2K
368.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24LRD 413
$1.91Rp 32.9K
17.28%
Onion(1kg)
$10.58LRD 1,946
$2.19Rp 37.7K
383.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.58LRD 843
$1.06Rp 18.3K
332.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97LRD 362
$0.72Rp 12.5K
173.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.04LRD 927
$3.13Rp 54.1K
61.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13LRD 1,313
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-69.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56LRD 470
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-6.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33LRD 614
$2.88Rp 49.7K
15.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92LRD 537
$0.29Rp 5,010
906.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.95LRD 3,670
$8.17Rp 141.0K
144.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70LRD 497
$0.45Rp 7,834
500.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26LRD 231
$0.42Rp 7,278
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.45LRD 3,211
$6.16Rp 106.3K
183.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21LRD 223
$0.84Rp 14.5K
44.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4KLRD 2.3M
$26.2KRp 453.1M
-52.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8KLRD 2.7M
$32.5KRp 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)
$273LRD 50.2K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
248.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.91LRD 4,215
$3.95Rp 68.2K
480.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.4LRD 17.0K
$24.40Rp 421.4K
278.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.7LRD 14.1K
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-20.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.15LRD 1,500
$6.35Rp 109.6K
28.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89LRD 1,819
$4.04Rp 69.7K
144.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$128LRD 23.6K
$303Rp 5.2M
-57.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$910LRD 167.5K
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-86.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.68LRD 3,438
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-65.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.89LRD 6,235
$37.98Rp 655.8K
-10.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.7LRD 10.2K
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-35.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1LRD 12.7K
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-12.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673LRD 123.8K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-33.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.8LRD 17.6K
$674Rp 11.6M
-85.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,808LRD 332.6K
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$267LRD 49.2K
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-87.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monrovia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$695LRD 127.8K
$173Rp 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.