😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,619 in Torrance, CA versus $2,356 in Pembroke.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,552 in Torrance, CA versus $3,897 in Pembroke.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,485 in Torrance, CA versus $5,439 in Pembroke.
😐Living in Torrance, CA is roughly 54% more expensive than Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Torrance, CA170% above, Pembroke76% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37$20.37
$60.1BMD 60.1
-66.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.5$86.5
$152BMD 152
-43.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.09$14.09
$14.72BMD 14.72
-4.28%
Cappuccino
$5.64$5.64
$4.54BMD 4.54
24.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$3.51BMD 3.51
-17.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$2.97BMD 2.97
-29.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.95$7.95
$8.22BMD 8.22
-3.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.02$10.02
$8.73BMD 8.73
14.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19$1.19
$4.34BMD 4.34
-72.58%
White Bread(500g)
$4.27$4.27
$8.66BMD 8.66
-50.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.98$5.98
$5.61BMD 5.61
6.60%
Eggs
$6.94$6.94
$7.39BMD 7.39
-6.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61$12.61
$11.75BMD 11.75
7.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.24$17.24
$24.61BMD 24.61
-29.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.22$16.22
$32.66BMD 32.66
-50.34%
Apples(1kg)
$6.19$6.19
$10.52BMD 10.52
-41.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$6.32BMD 6.32
-68.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$12.69BMD 12.69
-67.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$11.37BMD 11.37
-57.43%
Potato(1kg)
$3.59$3.59
$8.44BMD 8.44
-57.46%
Onion(1kg)
$3.20$3.20
$5.17BMD 5.17
-38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83$1.83
$5.87BMD 5.87
-68.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$3.27BMD 3.27
-31.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.67$11.67
$17.65BMD 17.65
-33.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.28$15.28
$24.90BMD 24.90
-38.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51$2.51
$5.33BMD 5.33
-52.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15$3.15
$4.37BMD 4.37
-27.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70$1.70
$3.89BMD 3.89
-56.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.41$44.41
$69.0BMD 69.0
-35.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08$3.08
$6.13BMD 6.13
-49.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75$1.75
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.48$29.48
$53.2BMD 53.2
-44.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28$1.28
$2.39BMD 2.39
-46.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K$31.9K
$35.0KBMD 35.0K
-8.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$39.1KBMD 39.1K
-31.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$279$279
$235BMD 235
18.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.7$65.7
$117BMD 117
-43.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4$61.4
$159BMD 159
-61.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.85$49.85
$80.7BMD 80.7
-38.22%
Cinema Ticket
$14.09$14.09
$13.70BMD 13.70
2.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,801$1,801
$1,333BMD 1,333
35.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K$15.3K
$24.0KBMD 24.0K
-36.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7$61.7
$80.6BMD 80.6
-23.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.04$46.04
$58.8BMD 58.8
-21.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100$100
$136BMD 136
-25.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150$150
$128BMD 128
17.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,790$2,790
$3,708BMD 3,708
-24.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,062$2,062
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,086$4,086
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,089$4,089
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,538$7,538
$5,624BMD 5,624
34.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,487$6,487
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,773$5,773
$7,856BMD 7,856
-26.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.58
7.22
-8.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Torrance, CA: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pembroke: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,790 in Torrance, CA and $3,708 in Pembroke. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pembroke pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Torrance, CA vs $152 in Pembroke for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $463 vs $820 per month, with Torrance, CA cheaper across the board.
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
Torrance, CA vs Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Torrance, CA and Pembroke?
Torrance, CA and Pembroke differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($3,619 vs $2,356 including rent). Pembroke is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Torrance, CA or Pembroke?
On paper, Pembroke earns 36% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Torrance, CA vs Pembroke?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,790 in Torrance, CA versus $3,708 in Pembroke. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Torrance, CA and Pembroke?
Childcare runs $1,801 in Torrance, CA versus $1,333 in Pembroke. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Torrance, CA or Pembroke?
Shoppers in Torrance, CA pay roughly 77% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Torrance, CA or Pembroke?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Pembroke is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Torrance, CA or Pembroke?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pembroke delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,356 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pembroke hard to pass up.
How safe is Torrance, CA compared to Pembroke?
Safety-wise, Torrance, CA and Pembroke are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Pembroke gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Torrance, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Torrance, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared