😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,517 in Torrance, CA versus $2,339 in Pembroke.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,452 in Torrance, CA versus $3,925 in Pembroke.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,387 in Torrance, CA versus $5,512 in Pembroke.
🌍Living in Torrance, CA is roughly 50% more expensive than in Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Torrance, CA163% above, Pembroke75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.05$20.05
$58.8BMD 58.8
-65.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.5$86.5
$150BMD 150
-42.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.90$13.90
$14.90BMD 14.90
-6.71%
Cappuccino
$5.84$5.84
$4.39BMD 4.39
33.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98$2.98
$3.36BMD 3.36
-11.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$2.98BMD 2.98
-26.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.17$8.17
$8.23BMD 8.23
-0.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.90$9.90
$8.46BMD 8.46
17.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24$1.24
$4.40BMD 4.40
-71.82%
White Bread(500g)
$4.50$4.50
$8.93BMD 8.93
-49.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.93$5.93
$5.43BMD 5.43
9.21%
Eggs
$7.02$7.02
$7.64BMD 7.64
-8.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.60$12.60
$11.73BMD 11.73
7.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.27$17.27
$24.12BMD 24.12
-28.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.51$16.51
$31.79BMD 31.79
-48.07%
Apples(1kg)
$6.00$6.00
$10.29BMD 10.29
-41.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88$1.88
$6.27BMD 6.27
-70.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$12.67BMD 12.67
-66.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.94$4.94
$11.45BMD 11.45
-56.86%
Potato(1kg)
$3.55$3.55
$8.23BMD 8.23
-56.87%
Onion(1kg)
$3.15$3.15
$5.16BMD 5.16
-38.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90$1.90
$6.09BMD 6.09
-68.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$3.15BMD 3.15
-29.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.65$11.65
$17.48BMD 17.48
-33.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.98$14.98
$24.78BMD 24.78
-39.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54$2.54
$5.46BMD 5.46
-53.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27$3.27
$4.46BMD 4.46
-26.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71$1.71
$3.86BMD 3.86
-55.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79$45.79
$67.4BMD 67.4
-32.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03$3.03
$6.27BMD 6.27
-51.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75$1.75
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.07$29.07
$54.6BMD 54.6
-46.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23$1.23
$2.29BMD 2.29
-46.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K$31.5K
$34.5KBMD 34.5K
-8.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K$26.9K
$39.5KBMD 39.5K
-32.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$278$278
$232BMD 232
20.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.8$65.8
$121BMD 121
-45.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0$60.0
$155BMD 155
-61.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.75$49.75
$79.2BMD 79.2
-37.14%
Cinema Ticket
$13.97$13.97
$13.76BMD 13.76
1.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,804$1,804
$1,332BMD 1,332
35.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K$15.2K
$24.0KBMD 24.0K
-36.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4$61.4
$80.8BMD 80.8
-24.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.59$47.59
$60.7BMD 60.7
-21.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5$99.5
$135BMD 135
-26.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152$152
$128BMD 128
18.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,819$2,819
$3,822BMD 3,822
-26.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,074$2,074
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,163$4,163
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,101$4,101
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,616$7,616
$5,763BMD 5,763
32.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,557$6,557
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Torrance, CA
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,719$5,719
$8,135BMD 8,135
-29.70%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Pembroke: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,819 in Torrance, CA and $3,822 in Pembroke. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pembroke pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Torrance, CA vs $150 in Pembroke for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $466 vs $817 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 in Pembroke?
Torrance, CA and Pembroke differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($3,517 vs $2,339 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 in Pembroke?
On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Pembroke. 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 compared to Pembroke?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,819 in Torrance, CA versus $3,822 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 in Pembroke?
Childcare runs $1,804 in Torrance, CA versus $1,332 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 in Pembroke?
Shoppers in Torrance, CA pay roughly 75% 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 in 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 $2,339 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 50% 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