😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,493 in Hillerod versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,706 in Hillerod versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,920 in Hillerod versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Hillerod is roughly 92% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hillerod is 86% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.00DKK 148
$11.73MX$203
96.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.3DKK 639
$41.62MX$720
138.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.72DKK 88.2
$10.64MX$184
28.95%
Cappuccino
$6.43DKK 41.32
$3.52MX$60.9
82.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79DKK 30.83
$1.51MX$26.12
217.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21DKK 20.65
$0.97MX$16.84
230.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.37DKK 60.2
$2.95MX$51.0
217.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97DKK 51.2
$4.45MX$77.0
79.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98DKK 12.70
$1.38MX$23.93
43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16DKK 20.29
$1.89MX$32.72
67.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55DKK 16.40
$1.64MX$28.32
55.49%
Eggs
$4.96DKK 31.91
$2.51MX$43.34
97.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.09DKK 58.4
$8.34MX$144
8.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.81DKK 69.5
$8.34MX$144
29.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.03DKK 103
$10.73MX$186
49.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99DKK 19.21
$2.60MX$45.04
15.00%
Banana(1kg)
$3.36DKK 21.61
$1.46MX$25.20
130.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50DKK 22.53
$1.90MX$32.87
84.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.94DKK 38.20
$2.08MX$35.91
185.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29DKK 14.72
$1.78MX$30.71
28.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79DKK 11.50
$2.19MX$37.80
-18.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69DKK 10.84
$1.04MX$17.99
62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82DKK 5.28
$1.08MX$18.62
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.82DKK 56.7
$4.08MX$70.6
116.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.31DKK 66.3
$10.32MX$178
-0.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61DKK 10.32
$1.71MX$29.61
-5.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DKK 13.34
$2.58MX$44.54
-19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.66DKK 23.50
$0.51MX$8.81
617.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.1DKK 496
$26.46MX$458
191.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.80DKK 50.1
$3.26MX$56.4
139.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76DKK 11.32
$2.49MX$43.09
-29.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.1DKK 393
$3.25MX$56.2
1779.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12DKK 13.63
$1.31MX$22.61
61.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.5KDKK 318.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
63.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.8KDKK 307.2K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
103.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173DKK 1,110
$82.9MX$1,433
108.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.81DKK 127
$22.22MX$384
-10.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.39DKK 273
$29.34MX$507
44.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.81DKK 262
$51.6MX$893
-20.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37DKK 189
$18.32MX$317
60.32%
Cinema Ticket
$18.68DKK 120
$5.07MX$87.6
268.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$741DKK 4,764
$201MX$3,473
268.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,851DKK 37.6K
$5,212MX$90.1K
12.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102DKK 653
$36.92MX$639
175.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.82DKK 230
$39.79MX$688
-9.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123DKK 790
$78.5MX$1,357
56.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196DKK 1,262
$87.1MX$1,506
125.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916DKK 5,891
$973MX$16.8K
-5.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,107DKK 7,117
$468MX$8,090
136.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534DKK 9,862
$1,641MX$28.4K
-6.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,708DKK 11.0K
$1,221MX$21.1K
39.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hillerod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,880DKK 24.9K
$664MX$11.5K
484.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
11.42
-61.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hillerod: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $916 in Hillerod and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hillerod pays 484% 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: $99.0 in Hillerod vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $249 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
Hillerod vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hillerod or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in Hillerod. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hillerod or Playa del Carmen?
Hillerod pays 484% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hillerod vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $916 in Hillerod versus $973 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 Hillerod vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $99.0 in Hillerod. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Hillerod compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,493 per month in Hillerod versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Hillerod or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,493 in Hillerod, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Hillerod. 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, Hillerod or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 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 Hillerod compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Hillerod 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 92% less than in Hillerod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.