😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,134 in Hellerup versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,122 in Hellerup versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,110 in Hellerup versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Hellerup is roughly 69% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hellerup is 60% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.20DKK 151
$11.72MX$204
97.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$116DKK 757
$41.89MX$731
177.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.88DKK 90.5
$10.51MX$183
32.06%
Cappuccino
$6.70DKK 43.64
$3.59MX$62.5
86.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32DKK 28.18
$1.51MX$26.31
186.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14DKK 20.50
$0.92MX$15.96
241.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.25DKK 60.3
$2.96MX$51.6
212.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84DKK 51.1
$4.41MX$76.9
77.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00DKK 13.03
$1.40MX$24.35
42.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.24DKK 21.14
$1.88MX$32.87
72.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52DKK 16.41
$1.56MX$27.19
61.54%
Eggs
$4.84DKK 31.57
$2.61MX$45.50
85.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.76DKK 89.7
$8.32MX$145
65.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.67DKK 69.5
$8.35MX$146
27.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.04DKK 105
$10.86MX$189
47.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12DKK 20.31
$2.71MX$47.31
15.13%
Banana(1kg)
$3.31DKK 21.56
$1.51MX$26.25
119.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.54DKK 23.06
$1.87MX$32.67
89.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.65DKK 36.83
$2.19MX$38.19
157.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39DKK 15.57
$1.86MX$32.40
28.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71DKK 11.14
$2.23MX$38.90
-23.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22DKK 14.50
$1.07MX$18.63
107.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01DKK 6.56
$1.09MX$18.94
-7.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.21DKK 66.5
$4.19MX$73.0
143.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.12DKK 66.0
$10.43MX$182
-2.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80DKK 11.70
$1.66MX$28.91
8.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DKK 14.04
$2.61MX$45.56
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.74DKK 24.38
$0.54MX$9.45
592.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.5DKK 414
$26.16MX$456
142.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.56DKK 49.24
$3.08MX$53.7
145.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04DKK 13.30
$2.40MX$41.94
-15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.7DKK 396
$3.13MX$54.5
1838.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.26DKK 14.76
$1.31MX$22.87
72.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.0KDKK 319.6K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
64.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.5KDKK 315.9K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
107.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203DKK 1,325
$81.3MX$1,418
150.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.90DKK 117
$22.56MX$393
-20.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.12DKK 268
$30.05MX$524
36.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7DKK 337
$52.9MX$923
-2.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.59DKK 225
$18.39MX$321
88.09%
Cinema Ticket
$20.13DKK 131
$4.92MX$85.8
309.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$592DKK 3,860
$201MX$3,502
194.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,913DKK 38.5K
$5,175MX$90.2K
14.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102DKK 667
$35.92MX$627
184.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.72DKK 233
$40.13MX$700
-10.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119DKK 773
$79.7MX$1,390
48.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$198DKK 1,291
$86.5MX$1,508
129.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$930DKK 6,063
$978MX$17.1K
-4.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698DKK 4,552
$470MX$8,206
48.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560DKK 10.2K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-5.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,834DKK 18.5K
$1,203MX$21.0K
135.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,045DKK 32.9K
$3,953MX$69.0K
27.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,287DKK 21.4K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-50.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.19
11.42
-63.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hellerup: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $930 in Hellerup and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $116 in Hellerup vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Hellerup vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hellerup or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Hellerup. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hellerup and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,201 in Hellerup and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hellerup compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $930 in Hellerup versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Hellerup and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $116 in Hellerup. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Hellerup compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,134 per month in Hellerup versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Hellerup or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 in Hellerup, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hellerup. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hellerup or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,260 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Hellerup compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Hellerup and Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Hellerup. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.