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 $2,337 per month in Pembroke vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,821 per month in Pembroke vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,306 per month in Pembroke vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pembroke costs about 146% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Pembroke sits 69% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$50.6 BMD 50.6

$2.10 ฿69.0

2308.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 BMD 149

$19.84 ฿653

651.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.21 BMD 17.21

$5.79 ฿190

197.24%

Cappuccino

$4.61 BMD 4.61

$1.83 ฿60.1

151.91%

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

$3.19 BMD 3.19

$0.78 ฿25.49

308.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 BMD 3.16

$0.31 ฿10.32

919.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.40 BMD 7.40

$2.34 ฿76.8

216.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.26 BMD 9.26

$3.70 ฿122

150.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.51 BMD 4.51

$2.03 ฿66.8

122.17%

White Bread (500g)

$8.52 BMD 8.52

$1.60 ฿52.5

432.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.67 BMD 5.67

$1.42 ฿46.53

299.30%

Eggs

$7.72 BMD 7.72

$2.18 ฿71.6

254.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.79 BMD 18.79

$15.91 ฿523

18.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.51 BMD 23.51

$3.07 ฿101

665.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.06 BMD 27.06

$9.87 ฿324

174.16%

Apples (1kg)

$12.71 BMD 12.71

$2.63 ฿86.4

383.27%

Banana (1kg)

$6.52 BMD 6.52

$1.10 ฿36.02

492.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.98 BMD 6.98

$1.63 ฿53.6

328.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 BMD 4.11

$1.53 ฿50.3

168.63%

Potato (1kg)

$6.95 BMD 6.95

$1.24 ฿40.93

460.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 BMD 3.12

$1.13 ฿37.19

176.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.58 BMD 6.58

$0.74 ฿24.26

789.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 BMD 3.69

$0.50 ฿16.40

638.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.83 BMD 17.83

$4.28 ฿141

316.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.17 BMD 25.17

$17.97 ฿591

40.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.32 BMD 5.32

$1.70 ฿55.8

212.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 BMD 4.63

$2.90 ฿95.2

59.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 BMD 133

$55.3 ฿1,818

140.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 BMD 6.37

$1.23 ฿40.56

417.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 BMD 2.54

$0.53 ฿17.57

379.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$69.0 BMD 69.0

$2.40 ฿78.9

2776.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 BMD 2.36

$1.44 ฿47.32

63.89%

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

$37.6K BMD 37.6K

$21.2K ฿696.8K

77.49%

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

$41.7K BMD 41.7K

$27.3K ฿897.8K

52.68%

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

$256 BMD 256

$64.9 ฿2,135

293.85%

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

$145 BMD 145

$13.35 ฿439

988.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$163 BMD 163

$20.83 ฿685

684.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.0 BMD 80.0

$40.42 ฿1,329

97.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 BMD 13.24

$6.71 ฿221

97.32%

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

$1,306 BMD 1,306

$787 ฿25.9K

66.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K BMD 24.8K

$15.1K ฿497.2K

64.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.4 BMD 91.4

$56.2 ฿1,849

62.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 BMD 69.0

$24.95 ฿820

176.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 BMD 143

$92.7 ฿3,048

54.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BMD 129

$75.1 ฿2,470

71.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,823 BMD 3,823

$484 ฿15.9K

690.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,446

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,101 BMD 8,101

$605 ฿19.9K

1238.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

5.57

54.94%

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

Last update for Pembroke: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,823 in Pembroke versus $484 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 1238% 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 $149 in Pembroke versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $774 vs $242 – 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 146% 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 $3,506 per month in Pembroke and $1,426 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 $1,306 per month in Pembroke and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 219% 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 $950, than in Pembroke at $2,337. 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 $950 versus $2,337 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.