Roberts International Airport stands 56 kilometers southeast of Monrovia near the town of Harbel. The airport resumed commercial operations after the civil wars ended in 2003, with reconstruction funded by the United States government completing in 2005. Brussels Airlines operates the most frequent international service, connecting Monrovia to Brussels three times weekly. Royal Air Maroc flies via Casablanca. Kenya Airways connects through Nairobi. Turkish Airlines began service through Istanbul in 2018. No direct flights operate from North America. Travelers from the United States connect through Brussels, Casablanca, Addis Ababa, or Accra. Flight times from Brussels to Monrovia average eleven hours. The airport has one terminal building with basic facilities including currency exchange, though services operate inconsistently. A second smaller airport, Spriggs Payne, sits within Monrovia city limits and handles domestic flights only.
The Liberian dollar exists alongside the United States dollar in a dual currency system. Both currencies circulate legally and interchangeably. The exchange rate fluctuates, ranging between 150 and 190 Liberian dollars per US dollar during 2023 and 2024. The Central Bank of Liberia issues Liberian dollar notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500. United States dollar bills dominate larger transactions and formal business. Liberian dollars appear more frequently in markets and for small purchases. Coins exist but rarely circulate. The government announced plans to phase out the US dollar by 2025, though implementation remains uncertain. Prices for hotels, car rentals, and tour operators typically quote in US dollars. Local transport, street food, and market goods price in Liberian dollars.
ATMs in Monrovia dispense US dollars only. Ecobank, United Bank for Africa, and Guaranty Trust Bank operate the most reliable machines. Power outages disable ATMs frequently, sometimes for days. Daily withdrawal limits range from 2,000 to 5,000 US dollars depending on the bank and account type. ATMs outside Monrovia exist only in Gbarnga and Buchanan, and these malfunction regularly. Travelers should carry sufficient US cash for trips outside the capital. United States dollars dated before 2013 face frequent rejection by merchants who fear counterfeits. Small denomination bills prove essential because change remains perpetually scarce. A 20-dollar bill can be difficult to break outside formal establishments.
No international credit card network functions reliably in Liberia. Visa and Mastercard acceptance exists at fewer than twenty locations nationwide, concentrated in Monrovia hotels catering to international organizations. Transaction success rates remain unpredictable even where cards are nominally accepted due to intermittent internet connectivity. The Farmington Hotel, Royal Grand Hotel, and RLJ Kendeja Resort process cards with greater consistency than other establishments. Card skimming presents minimal risk because card use is so rare. Debit cards issued outside Liberia work only at specific ATMs, not for purchases.
Money transfer services operate widely. Western Union maintains the largest network with agents in Monrovia, Gbarnga, Buchanan, Kakata, Voinjama, and Zwedru. MoneyGram operates through Ecobank branches. Transfer fees from the United States range from 8 to 15 dollars for amounts under 500 dollars. Collection requires government-issued identification. The Central Bank prohibited mobile money transfers from foreign sources in 2020, then reversed this decision in 2022, creating ongoing confusion about which services function legally.
Electricity supply in Monrovia reaches approximately 30 percent of residents according to the Liberia Electricity Corporation 2023 report. The national grid operates intermittently, with outages lasting hours or days. Hotels and businesses rely on diesel generators. Outside Monrovia, grid electricity is effectively nonexistent except in Buchanan where the ArcelorMittal mining operation provides limited service. Standard voltage measures 120 volts at 60 Hz, identical to United States specifications. Sockets accept American-style two-flat-prong plugs. Travelers from Europe require voltage converters and plug adapters. Phone charging requires planning around generator schedules, typically morning and evening hours.
Four mobile networks operate: Lonestar Cell MTN, Orange Liberia, Novafone, and Cellcom. MTN commands the largest market share with coverage extending to approximately 60 percent of the land area. Orange provides the second-widest coverage. Network quality degrades sharply outside Monrovia, Gbarnga, and Buchanan. Voice calls work more reliably than data. 3G constitutes the dominant technology with 4G available only in central Monrovia. SIM cards cost between 2 and 5 US dollars and require passport registration under a 2019 telecommunications law. Vendors sell SIM cards at the airport, though arrivals after evening hours find stands closed. Prepaid data packages of 1 gigabyte cost approximately 5 US dollars and remain valid for seven days. Internet cafes exist in Monrovia but have declined in number as mobile data expanded.