Cost of Living Comparison Between Hellerup and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Hellerup and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$23.41 DKK 151
$11.96 MX$203
95.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 DKK 751
$47.38 MX$804
145.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.14 DKK 91.1
$11.75 MX$199
20.34%
Cappuccino
$7.14 DKK 46.00
$4.12 MX$70.0
73.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 DKK 27.73
$1.40 MX$23.74
207.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 DKK 22.50
$0.91 MX$15.48
283.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.38 DKK 54.0
$3.21 MX$54.4
161.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 DKK 51.4
$7.07 MX$120
12.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 DKK 13.27
$1.68 MX$28.44
22.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.10 DKK 26.43
$2.15 MX$36.48
90.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.36 DKK 15.23
$1.77 MX$30.10
33.33%
Eggs
$5.17 DKK 33.29
$2.82 MX$47.76
83.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 DKK 103
$9.20 MX$156
73.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.87 DKK 76.5
$9.23 MX$157
28.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.80 DKK 121
$12.64 MX$214
48.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 DKK 21.03
$2.95 MX$50.1
10.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.37 DKK 21.69
$1.58 MX$26.79
113.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 DKK 25.33
$2.22 MX$37.70
77.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.46 DKK 35.20
$2.36 MX$40.09
131.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 DKK 15.38
$1.99 MX$33.81
20.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 DKK 13.47
$1.98 MX$33.58
5.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 DKK 13.95
$1.24 MX$21.04
74.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 DKK 9.43
$1.21 MX$20.55
20.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 DKK 64.9
$4.60 MX$78.1
118.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.47 DKK 67.5
$10.52 MX$178
-0.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 DKK 12.19
$1.69 MX$28.70
11.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 DKK 16.13
$2.77 MX$47.06
-9.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.99 DKK 25.70
$0.60 MX$10.22
565.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.9 DKK 618
$29.70 MX$504
222.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.12 DKK 39.41
$5.24 MX$88.8
16.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 DKK 11.19
$3.65 MX$61.9
-52.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.9 DKK 412
$5.78 MX$98.1
1005.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.50 DKK 16.12
$1.54 MX$26.09
62.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.9K DKK 340.9K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
131.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.0K DKK 360.7K
$25.8K MX$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)
$197 DKK 1,271
$90.7 MX$1,538
117.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.49 DKK 80.5
$25.19 MX$427
-50.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.14 DKK 259
$31.75 MX$539
26.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.73 DKK 275
$68.8 MX$1,167
-37.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.77 DKK 166
$29.37 MX$498
-12.26%
Cinema Ticket
$20.41 DKK 132
$4.86 MX$82.5
319.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$757 DKK 4,878
$226 MX$3,828
235.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,306 DKK 40.6K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
50.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 DKK 712
$47.38 MX$804
133.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.83 DKK 315
$43.45 MX$737
12.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 DKK 868
$80.2 MX$1,361
67.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$197 DKK 1,269
$91.4 MX$1,550
115.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 DKK 6,241
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-10.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$769 DKK 4,955
$409 MX$6,933
88.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,649 DKK 10.6K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-16.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 DKK 8,371
$1,281 MX$21.7K
1.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,949 DKK 31.9K
$4,046 MX$68.6K
22.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,477 DKK 22.4K
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-48.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hellerup
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$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.

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