😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,289 in Hellerup versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,618 in Hellerup versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,947 in Hellerup versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Hellerup is roughly 75% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hellerup is 66% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.41DKK 151
$11.96MX$203
95.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117DKK 751
$47.38MX$804
145.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.14DKK 91.1
$11.75MX$199
20.34%
Cappuccino
$7.14DKK 46.00
$4.12MX$70.0
73.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30DKK 27.73
$1.40MX$23.74
207.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49DKK 22.50
$0.91MX$15.48
283.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.38DKK 54.0
$3.21MX$54.4
161.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97DKK 51.4
$7.07MX$120
12.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06DKK 13.27
$1.68MX$28.44
22.62%
White Bread(500g)
$4.10DKK 26.43
$2.15MX$36.48
90.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36DKK 15.23
$1.77MX$30.10
33.33%
Eggs
$5.17DKK 33.29
$2.82MX$47.76
83.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.93DKK 103
$9.20MX$156
73.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.87DKK 76.5
$9.23MX$157
28.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.80DKK 121
$12.64MX$214
48.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26DKK 21.03
$2.95MX$50.1
10.51%
Banana(1kg)
$3.37DKK 21.69
$1.58MX$26.79
113.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.93DKK 25.33
$2.22MX$37.70
77.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.46DKK 35.20
$2.36MX$40.09
131.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39DKK 15.38
$1.99MX$33.81
20.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09DKK 13.47
$1.98MX$33.58
5.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16DKK 13.95
$1.24MX$21.04
74.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46DKK 9.43
$1.21MX$20.55
20.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07DKK 64.9
$4.60MX$78.1
118.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47DKK 67.5
$10.52MX$178
-0.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89DKK 12.19
$1.69MX$28.70
11.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50DKK 16.13
$2.77MX$47.06
-9.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.99DKK 25.70
$0.60MX$10.22
565.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.9DKK 618
$29.70MX$504
222.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.12DKK 39.41
$5.24MX$88.8
16.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.74DKK 11.19
$3.65MX$61.9
-52.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.9DKK 412
$5.78MX$98.1
1005.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.50DKK 16.12
$1.54MX$26.09
62.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.9KDKK 340.9K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
131.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.0KDKK 360.7K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
116.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$197DKK 1,271
$90.7MX$1,538
117.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.49DKK 80.5
$25.19MX$427
-50.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.14DKK 259
$31.75MX$539
26.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.73DKK 275
$68.8MX$1,167
-37.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.77DKK 166
$29.37MX$498
-12.26%
Cinema Ticket
$20.41DKK 132
$4.86MX$82.5
319.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$757DKK 4,878
$226MX$3,828
235.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,306DKK 40.6K
$4,194MX$71.1K
50.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110DKK 712
$47.38MX$804
133.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.83DKK 315
$43.45MX$737
12.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135DKK 868
$80.2MX$1,361
67.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$197DKK 1,269
$91.4MX$1,550
115.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$968DKK 6,241
$1,086MX$18.4K
-10.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$769DKK 4,955
$409MX$6,933
88.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,649DKK 10.6K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-16.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299DKK 8,371
$1,281MX$21.7K
1.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,949DKK 31.9K
$4,046MX$68.6K
22.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,477DKK 22.4K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-48.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.7
11.45
-67.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hellerup: September 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $968 in Hellerup and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $117 in Hellerup vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $278 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 75% 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 $3,433 in Hellerup and $1,958 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: $968 in Hellerup versus $1,086 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 $47.00 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 $2,289 per month in Hellerup versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 75% 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,289 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 $1,305 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 75% less than in Hellerup. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.