😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,407 in Helsingor versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,626 in Helsingor versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,844 in Helsingor versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Helsingor is roughly 87% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Helsingor is 80% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.72DKK 139
$11.94MX$208
81.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109DKK 697
$42.75MX$744
155.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.62DKK 80.6
$10.59MX$184
19.17%
Cappuccino
$6.38DKK 40.68
$3.62MX$63.0
76.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66DKK 29.74
$1.47MX$25.54
217.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10DKK 19.77
$0.94MX$16.41
229.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.37DKK 53.4
$3.09MX$53.8
170.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.74DKK 42.98
$4.46MX$77.6
51.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03DKK 12.96
$1.43MX$24.80
41.96%
White Bread(500g)
$3.14DKK 20.06
$1.88MX$32.79
67.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27DKK 14.49
$1.63MX$28.34
39.26%
Eggs
$4.24DKK 27.05
$2.64MX$45.99
60.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.58DKK 86.6
$8.21MX$143
65.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.72DKK 68.4
$8.29MX$144
29.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.22DKK 104
$11.10MX$193
46.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99DKK 19.07
$2.65MX$46.14
12.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.99DKK 19.06
$1.50MX$26.11
99.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.16DKK 20.18
$1.99MX$34.59
58.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.37DKK 34.27
$2.08MX$36.13
158.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06DKK 13.12
$1.79MX$31.11
15.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68DKK 10.71
$2.18MX$37.87
-22.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.30DKK 14.65
$1.08MX$18.73
112.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83DKK 5.28
$1.04MX$18.04
-20.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.14DKK 58.3
$3.97MX$69.1
130.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.62DKK 67.7
$10.20MX$178
4.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73DKK 11.01
$1.73MX$30.04
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06DKK 13.13
$2.50MX$43.46
-17.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.84DKK 24.49
$0.52MX$9.02
638.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$119DKK 758
$26.97MX$469
340.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.01DKK 38.35
$3.14MX$54.7
91.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72DKK 10.98
$2.40MX$41.80
-28.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3DKK 391
$3.09MX$53.7
1884.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10DKK 13.41
$1.27MX$22.16
65.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.5KDKK 296.5K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
50.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.4KDKK 308.5K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
107.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165DKK 1,054
$82.0MX$1,427
101.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.46DKK 98.7
$22.45MX$391
-31.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.31DKK 244
$29.66MX$516
29.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.23DKK 276
$51.9MX$903
-16.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.71DKK 190
$18.67MX$325
59.13%
Cinema Ticket
$18.75DKK 120
$4.97MX$86.5
277.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610DKK 3,894
$198MX$3,442
208.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,232DKK 27.0K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-19.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102DKK 654
$36.34MX$632
181.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.36DKK 232
$40.05MX$697
-9.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119DKK 760
$79.9MX$1,390
49.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$195DKK 1,244
$88.9MX$1,547
119.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,027DKK 6,552
$963MX$16.8K
6.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,031DKK 6,578
$465MX$8,086
121.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,747DKK 11.1K
$1,596MX$27.8K
9.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,549DKK 9,883
$1,209MX$21.0K
28.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,354DKK 40.5K
$3,942MX$68.6K
61.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,997DKK 31.9K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-22.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Helsingor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,797DKK 17.8K
$720MX$12.5K
288.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
11.42
-63.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Helsingor: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,027 in Helsingor and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Helsingor pays 288% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $109 in Helsingor vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $251 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
Helsingor vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Helsingor?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Helsingor or Playa del Carmen?
Helsingor pays 288% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Helsingor and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,027 in Helsingor versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $610 in Helsingor versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Helsingor and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Helsingor. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Helsingor or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,407 in Helsingor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Helsingor. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Helsingor or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Helsingor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Helsingor or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Helsingor 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Helsingor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.