😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,106 in Hellerup versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,152 in Hellerup versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,198 in Hellerup versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Hellerup is roughly 66% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hellerup is 57% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.08DKK 149
$11.87MX$204
94.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117DKK 752
$42.90MX$736
172.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.00DKK 90.2
$10.65MX$183
31.46%
Cappuccino
$6.59DKK 42.47
$3.45MX$59.2
91.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30DKK 27.70
$1.50MX$25.81
186.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17DKK 20.44
$0.95MX$16.28
233.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.13DKK 58.8
$3.03MX$51.9
201.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.60DKK 48.95
$4.61MX$79.1
64.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99DKK 12.79
$1.38MX$23.61
44.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16DKK 20.35
$1.85MX$31.70
70.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57DKK 16.56
$1.61MX$27.65
59.63%
Eggs
$4.86DKK 31.28
$2.59MX$44.51
87.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.56DKK 87.4
$8.26MX$142
64.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.70DKK 68.9
$8.37MX$144
27.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.82DKK 102
$10.66MX$183
48.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02DKK 19.43
$2.63MX$45.12
14.83%
Banana(1kg)
$3.35DKK 21.60
$1.49MX$25.53
124.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53DKK 22.75
$1.92MX$32.94
83.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.64DKK 36.30
$2.09MX$35.81
169.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.38DKK 15.35
$1.86MX$31.88
27.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74DKK 11.18
$2.26MX$38.81
-23.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26DKK 14.58
$1.06MX$18.23
113.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94DKK 6.09
$1.09MX$18.67
-13.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10DKK 65.1
$4.15MX$71.2
143.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.61DKK 68.4
$10.39MX$178
2.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77DKK 11.42
$1.72MX$29.59
2.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DKK 13.86
$2.61MX$44.85
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.68DKK 23.71
$0.54MX$9.30
581.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.5DKK 415
$26.94MX$462
139.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.66DKK 49.31
$3.13MX$53.7
144.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05DKK 13.17
$2.51MX$43.09
-18.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.4DKK 402
$3.15MX$54.1
1879.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20DKK 14.16
$1.27MX$21.88
73.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.0KDKK 315.5K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
61.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.1KDKK 310.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
104.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196DKK 1,264
$83.0MX$1,425
136.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.91DKK 115
$22.71MX$390
-21.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.45DKK 267
$29.46MX$506
40.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7DKK 339
$51.0MX$875
3.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.64DKK 217
$18.33MX$315
83.52%
Cinema Ticket
$19.77DKK 127
$4.93MX$84.5
301.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$605DKK 3,898
$197MX$3,386
206.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,773DKK 37.2K
$5,280MX$90.6K
9.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102DKK 655
$36.90MX$633
175.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.26DKK 227
$39.89MX$685
-11.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122DKK 786
$80.0MX$1,373
52.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$195DKK 1,259
$89.5MX$1,536
118.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$939DKK 6,045
$956MX$16.4K
-1.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709DKK 4,568
$477MX$8,189
48.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,556DKK 10.0K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-5.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,790DKK 18.0K
$1,225MX$21.0K
127.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,439DKK 28.6K
$3,918MX$67.2K
13.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,570DKK 23.0K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-44.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $939 in Hellerup and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $117 in Hellerup vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $250 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 66% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,159 in Hellerup and $1,906 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $939 in Hellerup versus $956 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $117 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 $2,106 per month in Hellerup versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 66% 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,106 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 $1,271 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 66% less than in Hellerup. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.