Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pembroke Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pembroke

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,339 in Pembroke, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,925 in Pembroke, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,512 in Pembroke, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper than Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Pembroke is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$58.8 BMD 58.8

-96.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$150 BMD 150

-87.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$14.90 BMD 14.90

-49.80%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.39 BMD 4.39

-53.99%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.50

$3.36 BMD 3.36

-74.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.98 BMD 2.98

-87.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$8.23 BMD 8.23

-74.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$8.46 BMD 8.46

-57.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$4.40 BMD 4.40

-62.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$8.93 BMD 8.93

-82.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-78.08%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$7.64 BMD 7.64

-74.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$11.73 BMD 11.73

38.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$24.12 BMD 24.12

-87.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$31.79 BMD 31.79

-65.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$10.29 BMD 10.29

-73.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$6.27 BMD 6.27

-81.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$12.67 BMD 12.67

-86.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$11.45 BMD 11.45

-86.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$8.23 BMD 8.23

-83.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$5.16 BMD 5.16

-76.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$6.09 BMD 6.09

-89.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$3.15 BMD 3.15

-82.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$17.48 BMD 17.48

-73.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$24.78 BMD 24.78

-28.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$5.46 BMD 5.46

-65.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$4.46 BMD 4.46

-26.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$3.86 BMD 3.86

-77.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$67.4 BMD 67.4

-71.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$6.27 BMD 6.27

-78.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$54.6 BMD 54.6

-84.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$2.29 BMD 2.29

-46.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$34.5K BMD 34.5K

-38.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$39.5K BMD 39.5K

-43.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,376

$232 BMD 232

-69.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿472

$121 BMD 121

-88.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$155 BMD 155

-88.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$79.2 BMD 79.2

-46.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$13.76 BMD 13.76

-56.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$1,332 BMD 1,332

-76.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$24.0K BMD 24.0K

-38.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$80.8 BMD 80.8

-31.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$60.7 BMD 60.7

-56.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$135 BMD 135

-38.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$128 BMD 128

-44.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$3,822 BMD 3,822

-88.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$5,763 BMD 5,763

-66.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$8,135 BMD 8,135

-92.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

-30.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pembroke: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $3,822 in Pembroke. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1304% higher in Pembroke, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $150 in Pembroke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $817 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chiang Mai vs Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pembroke costs about 172% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,509 in Pembroke. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,332 in Pembroke. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 235% more in Pembroke, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Pembroke at $2,339. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pembroke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,339 in Pembroke. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pembroke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.