Monstera plants aren’t known for being the cheapest plants at the garden center…but they also aren’t the most expensive. The age, size, and variety of monstera can also make a huge difference in the number on the price tag. So what can you expect to pay for a monstera? We’ll walk you through everything you need to know in this monstera plant price guide.
Table of Contents
What You Can Expect to Pay for a Monstera
So how much do monstera plants typically cost? Does it make a difference whether you buy them online or in a garden center? Which monstera species cost the most?
Here are the basics you should know when you start shopping for a monstera plant.
How much does it cost to buy a Monstera from a garden center?
From what we’ve seen, the prices at garden centers are quite comparable to prices from online sellers but may be more than what you’d see from private sellers. Young, smaller monstera varieties might start off as low as $10, with more mature or less common varieties costing up to $100.
With the exception of local, boutique sellers, you probably won’t find rare varieties in garden centers, especially in bigger chains like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or IKEA. If you have your eye on a less common monstera species, you’re better off searching online.
Variegated Monstera Prices
While regular, standard-color monstera prices can be very reasonable, you’re easily looking at several hundred dollars for a variegated monstera variety like monstera albo borsigiana, or even for a cutting. These are so expensive because they can only be grown from cuttings from other variegated plants, and even then it’s not a sure thing. They’re also more difficult to grow because of the lack of chlorophyll.
If you’re on a budget, you’re better off sticking to a non-variegated monstera variety.
Factors That Affect Monstera Costs
The price of monstera plants can vary wildly! Here are some variables that factor into a monstera’s price.
Rare Varieties
More common monstera varieties such as standard Monstera deliciosa and Monstera adansonii are going to cost a lot less (think $35-$60) than rarer varieties such as Monstera acuminata, or the elusive (and super pricey) Monstera obliqua, which can sell for thousands of dollars for a single non-rooted leaf!
If you’re on a budget, think about what you want from your monstera plant. Are you looking for something big and flashy? Plentiful and striking fenestrations? Something small and space-efficient but still beautiful?
Once you know what you can afford, you can find a monstera variety to fit those needs without paying an arm and a leg.
Size
Size and age can sometimes go together, because a more mature plant is going to be larger than a young one. However, the potential size of the actual monstera variety can sometimes affect the price.
For example, a larger monstera variety Monstera deliciosa or Monstera borsigiana may cost more than a smaller variety like Monstera adansonii or Monstera dubia of the same age.
The rareness of the variety is still a bigger factor here. Monstera obliqua, probably the rarest and most expensive variety of all, is a smaller monstera variety and will go for a far higher price than larger varieties.
Maturity of Plant
A more mature plant will cost more than a younger plant of the same variety because of the time, effort, and resources it requires to nurture a plant for that long.
If you have your heart set on a certain variety but can’t afford (or just don’t want to pay) the price of a mature plant, you can always buy a younger one. And you might find it really satisfying to care for the plant yourself and watch it grow into a gorgeous, mature monstera! This method requires a lot more patience, but it’s friendlier on your wallet and can be very fulfilling.
Distinguishing Features and Variegation
Variegated monstera plants will always cost more than non-variegated varieties because they’re so much harder to produce and care for. These plants are also in higher demand and will therefore sell for a higher price.
There are other features that will drive up the price of different monstera varieties. For example, varieties that produce a larger number of fenestrations, or splits and holes, will often cost more. Part of this is because these plants can be more difficult to care for due to the more delicate leaves.
However, non-fenestrated varieties can also cost more if they are more rare. Monstera Peru and Monstera dubia are usually fairly inexpensive. (Note: Mature Monstera dubia plants do develop fenestrations outdoors but rarely when kept as houseplants.)
Shipping Costs and Your Location
Live plants can be tricky and sometimes costly to ship, so make sure to factor shipping costs into your budget if you plan to buy a monstera plant online. Larger or more delicate plants will be more difficult and expensive to ship, while smaller, hardier ones will cost less.
If you purchase a plant that has to be shipped a long distance, you can also expect to pay more for shipping. For example, if you live in the states, buying a variegated monstera from Thailand, where they’re commonly grown, is going to cost a pretty penny!
Try to buy a plant that’s located close to home to save on shipping costs.
How to Get Cheap Monstera Plants
There are a few ways to score a monstera plant for cheap or even free. Generally, this means buying a more common variety and getting a younger plant or even a cutting you can root and grow yourself. You might also get lucky and find a monstera plant someone is giving away for free or selling for cheap!
Here are a few tricks to finding cheap monsteras plants.
- Find a plant that’s small, young, or slightly damaged.
If you want a cheap monstera, start by checking out your local garden store for a young Monstera deliciosa or adansonii (depending on the size you’re going for) or a Monstera dubia or Peru, if you don’t care about fenestrations.
Buy the smallest, youngest plant you can find, and don’t forget to check the “as is” section, or the area of slightly damaged plants on discount. Most garden stores will have these, and they can be a great way to get cheap plants if you don’t mind putting in a little extra TLC to nurse the plant back to health.
Side note: Avoid buying a plant that looks like it has insect damage, because you might accidentally bring pests into your home that can quickly infect your other houseplants and be difficult to get rid of completely!
- Buy secondhand.
Try searching your local Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for cheap or even free monstera plants someone might be trying to get rid of. This can be a great resource for finding cheap houseplants! You may also be able to source cheap cuttings this way.
- Get a cutting.
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Etsy are great resources for finding cuttings of monstera varieties you want to grow. No matter what variety you choose, a cutting will be far cheaper than an established, mature plant. It does take more work to grow a cutting, though, so you may want to start with a cheaper variety if you aren’t confident in your abilities to nurture a cutting. If you’re new to cuttings, you may want to at least find one that’s already rooted to save yourself a lot of work!
Tip: If you purchase a fresh cutting, a little rooting hormone can help!
How to Get a Monstera Plant for Free
It’s possible to find free monstera plants if you know where to look!
The best place to start would be to simply ask around. If you have planty friends, you may be able to get a cutting or even a whole plant for free if someone is feeling generous or trying to downsize their houseplant collection. (Weird, but these people do exist.)
You might also get lucky and find a cheap or free plant on Facebook Marketplace or Craiglist. Sometimes people need to downsize quickly and are willing to rehome their plants for free! Joining a Buy Sell Trade Plants Group may be beneficial.
What Are the Most Expensive Houseplants?
Curious about the most expensive houseplants out there?
While you can find any old pothos or snake plant at a garden center for less than $20, there are some plants that regularly sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
Here are some of the most expensive houseplant out there, reserved only for the diehard plant owners willing to shell out for rare or large houseplants.
Old Pine Bonsai
Bonsai trees require a lot of care, and many species can live to a great age when properly nurtured, even being passed down through generations as an heirloom.
Old, well-cultivated pine bonsai trees are extremely expensive and rare in the marketplace.
The most expensive bonsai ever sold is a white pine bonsai that was several centuries old, which fetched the price of $1.3 million dollars at a high-end bonsai convention in Japan. That’s some serious cash!
Philodendron Minima
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, or Philodendron minima, also mistakenly called “mini monstera,” is not actually a monstera at all. A standard green minima is actually very reasonably priced most of the time. However, a variegated minima can be extremely expensive. In fact, a four-leaf plant once sold for upwards of $8,000 on an auction site.
Mature Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Fiddle leaf figs are infamous for being finicky and difficult to care for, thanks to their tendency to quickly develop root rot when overwatered, or go into shock when moved and lose a large percentage of their leaves. Plenty of people actually find this plant to be easygoing, but it’s definitely a plant that knows what it wants and is not recommended for total beginners.
Either way, the fiddle leaf fig is gorgeous and has enjoyed a major boom in popularity thanks to social media and interior decorating magazines.
While young fiddles are usually very reasonably priced, you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars for a tall, mature tree that’s been pruned and shaped into that iconic lollipop silhouette so many houseplant owners love.
Monstera Obliqua
We’ve mentioned this plant a few times in this article, and for good reason. You can EASILY pay upwards of $3,000 just for a single leaf, unrooted cutting of this plant. Monstera obliqua is not only extremely rare, but also notoriously difficult to care for due to its ultra-delicate leaves, which are so heavily fenestrated that they’re actually more empty space than leaf. These plants require high humidity to prevent the leaves from drying out and crumbling, and they’re super fussy about their light, soil, and water requirements.
This one is for serious collectors only!
Ready to Buy Your Monstera?
Monstera plants range widely in price, but no matter what your budget is, you can get yourself a beautiful monstera plant if you’re willing to put in a little work to find a good deal and nurture a plant to help it reach its full potential.
You’ll find all the resources on and supplies you need on this site to help you grow the healthiest, most beautiful monstera plant possible!
To learn more about monstera growth and troubleshooting monstera care, visit these resources:
Leave A Comment