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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,356 per month in Pembroke vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

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

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

Pembroke costs about 172% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$60.1 BMD 60.1

$1.94 ฿63.5

2995.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$152 BMD 152

$18.64 ฿609

715.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.72 BMD 14.72

$7.82 ฿255

88.24%

Cappuccino

$4.54 BMD 4.54

$1.95 ฿63.8

132.82%

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

$3.51 BMD 3.51

$0.85 ฿27.77

312.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 BMD 2.97

$0.35 ฿11.58

748.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.22 BMD 8.22

$2.13 ฿69.6

285.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 BMD 8.73

$3.73 ฿122

134.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$1.71 ฿56.0

153.80%

White Bread (500g)

$8.66 BMD 8.66

$1.63 ฿53.2

431.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 BMD 5.61

$1.14 ฿37.15

392.11%

Eggs

$7.39 BMD 7.39

$1.93 ฿63.1

282.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.75 BMD 11.75

$16.21 ฿530

-27.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.61 BMD 24.61

$3.12 ฿102

688.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.66 BMD 32.66

$10.90 ฿356

199.63%

Apples (1kg)

$10.52 BMD 10.52

$2.75 ฿90.0

282.55%

Banana (1kg)

$6.32 BMD 6.32

$1.21 ฿39.52

422.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.69 BMD 12.69

$1.62 ฿53.0

683.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.37 BMD 11.37

$1.59 ฿51.8

615.09%

Potato (1kg)

$8.44 BMD 8.44

$1.40 ฿45.70

502.86%

Onion (1kg)

$5.17 BMD 5.17

$1.17 ฿38.17

341.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.87 BMD 5.87

$0.66 ฿21.60

789.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.27 BMD 3.27

$0.53 ฿17.22

516.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.65 BMD 17.65

$4.69 ฿153

276.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.90 BMD 24.90

$18.66 ฿609

33.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.33 BMD 5.33

$1.80 ฿58.8

196.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 BMD 4.37

$3.23 ฿106

35.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 BMD 3.89

$0.90 ฿29.26

332.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 BMD 69.0

$19.21 ฿628

259.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 BMD 6.13

$1.41 ฿45.91

334.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.2 BMD 53.2

$7.84 ฿256

578.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.39 BMD 2.39

$1.27 ฿41.58

88.19%

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

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

64.47%

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

$39.1K BMD 39.1K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

76.23%

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

$235 BMD 235

$69.1 ฿2,256

239.92%

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

$117 BMD 117

$14.08 ฿460

729.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 BMD 159

$18.00 ฿588

782.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.7 BMD 80.7

$41.06 ฿1,341

96.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 BMD 13.70

$5.92 ฿193

131.42%

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

$1,333 BMD 1,333

$299 ฿9,766

345.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K BMD 24.0K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

60.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.6 BMD 80.6

$54.7 ฿1,787

47.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.8 BMD 58.8

$26.77 ฿874

119.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 BMD 136

$85.0 ฿2,776

59.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 BMD 128

$70.6 ฿2,306

80.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,708 BMD 3,708

$428 ฿14.0K

766.08%

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)

$5,624 BMD 5,624

$1,975 ฿64.5K

184.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,856 BMD 7,856

$617 ฿20.2K

1172.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

44.40%

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

Last update for Pembroke: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,708 in Pembroke versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 $152 in Pembroke versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $820 vs $246 – 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

Pembroke vs Chiang Mai: 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 $3,533 per month in Pembroke and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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 $1,333 per month in Pembroke and $299 in Chiang Mai. 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.