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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,106 in Hellerup.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,152 in Hellerup.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,198 in Hellerup.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 40% less than in Hellerup, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Hellerup is 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$23.08 DKK 149
-48.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$117 DKK 752
-63.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$14.00 DKK 90.2
-23.93%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$6.59 DKK 42.47
-47.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$4.30 DKK 27.70
-65.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$3.17 DKK 20.44
-70.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$9.13 DKK 58.8
-66.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$7.60 DKK 48.95
-39.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.99 DKK 12.79
-30.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$3.16 DKK 20.35
-41.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$2.57 DKK 16.56
-37.35%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$4.86 DKK 31.28
-46.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$13.56 DKK 87.4
-39.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$10.70 DKK 68.9
-21.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$15.82 DKK 102
-32.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$3.02 DKK 19.43
-12.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$3.35 DKK 21.60
-55.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$3.53 DKK 22.75
-45.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$5.64 DKK 36.30
-62.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$2.38 DKK 15.35
-21.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.74 DKK 11.18
29.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$2.26 DKK 14.58
-53.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.94 DKK 6.09
15.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$10.10 DKK 65.1
-58.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$10.61 DKK 68.4
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.77 DKK 11.42
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$2.15 DKK 13.86
21.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$3.68 DKK 23.71
-85.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$64.5 DKK 415
-58.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$7.66 DKK 49.31
-59.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$2.05 DKK 13.17
22.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$62.4 DKK 402
-94.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$2.20 DKK 14.16
-42.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$49.0K DKK 315.5K
-37.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$48.1K DKK 310.0K
-51.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$196 DKK 1,264
-57.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$17.91 DKK 115
26.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$41.45 DKK 267
-28.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$52.7 DKK 339
-3.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$33.64 DKK 217
-45.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$19.77 DKK 127
-75.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$605 DKK 3,898
-67.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$5,773 DKK 37.2K
-8.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$102 DKK 655
-63.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$35.26 DKK 227
13.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$122 DKK 786
-34.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$195 DKK 1,259
-54.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$939 DKK 6,045
1.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$709 DKK 4,568
-32.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,556 DKK 10.0K
5.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$2,790 DKK 18.0K
-56.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$4,439 DKK 28.6K
-11.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$3,570 DKK 23.0K
80.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.19
172.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Hellerup: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $939 in Hellerup. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $117 in Hellerup for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $366 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
Playa del Carmen vs Hellerup: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Hellerup?
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 Playa del Carmen vs Hellerup?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $3,159 in Hellerup 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 Playa del Carmen vs Hellerup?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $939 in Hellerup. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Hellerup?
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 Playa del Carmen compared to Hellerup?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,106 in Hellerup – 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 Playa del Carmen or Hellerup?
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, Playa del Carmen or Hellerup?
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 Playa del Carmen compared to Hellerup?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Hellerup 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.

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