Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pembroke

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $2,374 in Pembroke, rent and utilities included – about $17,400 less a year. The total is higher in Pembroke despite lower rent and utilities.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Pembroke
🇧🇲 Bermuda
$2,374
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Pembroke

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Pembroke actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,374 in Pembroke, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Pembroke $2,374

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,871 in Pembroke, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Pembroke $3,871

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,368 in Pembroke, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Pembroke $5,368

Chiang Mai is about 61% cheaper than Pembroke, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Pembroke is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$49.04 BMD 49.04
-95.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$152 BMD 152
-87.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$16.78 BMD 16.78
-66.57%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$4.38 BMD 4.38
-62.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$3.02 BMD 3.02
-76.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$3.05 BMD 3.05
-89.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$7.63 BMD 7.63
-68.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$8.86 BMD 8.86
-58.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$4.80 BMD 4.80
-59.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$8.14 BMD 8.14
-82.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$5.40 BMD 5.40
-75.74%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$7.07 BMD 7.07
-69.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$23.42 BMD 23.42
-28.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$21.37 BMD 21.37
-87.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$19.80 BMD 19.80
-53.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$8.94 BMD 8.94
-73.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$6.75 BMD 6.75
-84.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$7.25 BMD 7.25
-77.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$8.46 BMD 8.46
-82.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$5.78 BMD 5.78
-77.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$4.05 BMD 4.05
-72.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$6.34 BMD 6.34
-88.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$3.50 BMD 3.50
-84.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$17.99 BMD 17.99
-76.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$24.37 BMD 24.37
-26.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$5.17 BMD 5.17
-69.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$4.27 BMD 4.27
-33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$131 BMD 131
-59.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$6.37 BMD 6.37
-81.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$2.54 BMD 2.54
-77.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$70.5 BMD 70.5
-96.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$2.42 BMD 2.42
-40.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$37.3K BMD 37.3K
-44.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$42.9K BMD 42.9K
-37.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$291 BMD 291
-78.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$150 BMD 150
-91.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$160 BMD 160
-87.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
$78.1 BMD 78.1
-52.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$13.34 BMD 13.34
-51.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$1,303 BMD 1,303
-39.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$25.5K BMD 25.5K
-41.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$91.5 BMD 91.5
-41.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$71.1 BMD 71.1
-65.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$141 BMD 141
-35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$127 BMD 127
-43.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
$3,811 BMD 3,811
-88.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
$8,056 BMD 8,056
-92.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.63
-35.46%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Pembroke: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Pembroke
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Pembroke
$748 218% $513
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Pembroke
$194 79.3% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Pembroke
$601 537% $507
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Pembroke
$575 632% $497
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Pembroke
$150 * 147% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Pembroke
$105 109% $55

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $3,811 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 1263% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $152 in Pembroke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $748 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇲 Pembroke
🕒 Local time
08:07 8:07 AM
22:07 10:07 PM
10 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
11,160
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Bermudian Dollar exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BMD (1 BMD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BMD (1 BMD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Pembroke 14,080 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Pembroke

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Pembroke?
Pembroke costs about 157% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Pembroke?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,561 in Pembroke. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Pembroke?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Pembroke?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,303 in Pembroke. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Pembroke?
Groceries cost about 218% more in Pembroke, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Pembroke?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Pembroke at $2,374. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pembroke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Pembroke?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $2,374 in Pembroke. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Pembroke?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Pembroke?
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.

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