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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,356 in Pembroke, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,897 in Pembroke, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,439 in Pembroke, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper than Pembroke, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Pembroke is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$60.1 BMD 60.1

-96.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$152 BMD 152

-87.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$14.72 BMD 14.72

-46.88%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.54 BMD 4.54

-57.05%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.51 BMD 3.51

-75.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.97 BMD 2.97

-88.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$8.22 BMD 8.22

-74.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.73 BMD 8.73

-57.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$4.34 BMD 4.34

-60.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$8.66 BMD 8.66

-81.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$5.61 BMD 5.61

-79.68%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.39 BMD 7.39

-73.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.75 BMD 11.75

37.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$24.61 BMD 24.61

-87.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$32.66 BMD 32.66

-66.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$10.52 BMD 10.52

-73.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$6.32 BMD 6.32

-80.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$12.69 BMD 12.69

-87.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$11.37 BMD 11.37

-86.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$8.44 BMD 8.44

-83.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$5.17 BMD 5.17

-77.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$5.87 BMD 5.87

-88.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$3.27 BMD 3.27

-83.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$17.65 BMD 17.65

-73.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$24.90 BMD 24.90

-25.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$5.33 BMD 5.33

-66.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.37 BMD 4.37

-26.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$3.89 BMD 3.89

-76.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$69.0 BMD 69.0

-72.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$6.13 BMD 6.13

-77.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$53.2 BMD 53.2

-85.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.39 BMD 2.39

-46.86%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

-39.20%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$39.1K BMD 39.1K

-43.26%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$235 BMD 235

-70.58%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$117 BMD 117

-87.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$159 BMD 159

-88.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$80.7 BMD 80.7

-49.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.70 BMD 13.70

-56.79%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$1,333 BMD 1,333

-77.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$24.0K BMD 24.0K

-37.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$80.6 BMD 80.6

-32.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$58.8 BMD 58.8

-54.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$136 BMD 136

-37.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$128 BMD 128

-44.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$3,708 BMD 3,708

-88.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$5,624 BMD 5,624

-64.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$7,856 BMD 7,856

-92.14%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pembroke: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $3,708 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 1172% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $152 in Pembroke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $820 – 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 Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,533 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,333 in Pembroke. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 233% 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 $866, than in Pembroke at $2,356. 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 $866 versus $2,356 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.