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: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,289 in Hellerup.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,618 in Hellerup.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,947 in Hellerup.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 43% less than in Hellerup, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Hellerup is 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$23.41 DKK 151
-48.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$117 DKK 751
-59.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$14.14 DKK 91.1
-16.90%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$7.14 DKK 46.00
-42.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$4.30 DKK 27.73
-67.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$3.49 DKK 22.50
-73.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$8.38 DKK 54.0
-61.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$7.97 DKK 51.4
-11.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$2.06 DKK 13.27
-18.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$4.10 DKK 26.43
-47.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$2.36 DKK 15.23
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$5.17 DKK 33.29
-45.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$15.93 DKK 103
-42.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$11.87 DKK 76.5
-22.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$18.80 DKK 121
-32.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$3.26 DKK 21.03
-9.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$3.37 DKK 21.69
-53.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$3.93 DKK 25.33
-43.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$5.46 DKK 35.20
-56.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$2.39 DKK 15.38
-16.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$2.09 DKK 13.47
-5.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$2.16 DKK 13.95
-42.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$1.46 DKK 9.43
-17.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$10.07 DKK 64.9
-54.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$10.47 DKK 67.5
0.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.89 DKK 12.19
-10.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$2.50 DKK 16.13
10.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$3.99 DKK 25.70
-84.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$95.9 DKK 618
-69.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$6.12 DKK 39.41
-14.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$1.74 DKK 11.19
109.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$63.9 DKK 412
-90.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$2.50 DKK 16.12
-38.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$52.9K DKK 340.9K
-56.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$56.0K DKK 360.7K
-53.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$197 DKK 1,271
-54.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$12.49 DKK 80.5
101.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$40.14 DKK 259
-20.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$42.73 DKK 275
60.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$25.77 DKK 166
13.97%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$20.41 DKK 132
-76.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$757 DKK 4,878
-70.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$6,306 DKK 40.6K
-33.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$110 DKK 712
-57.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$48.83 DKK 315
-11.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$135 DKK 868
-40.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$197 DKK 1,269
-53.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$968 DKK 6,241
12.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$769 DKK 4,955
-46.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$1,649 DKK 10.6K
19.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$1,299 DKK 8,371
-1.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$4,949 DKK 31.9K
-18.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$3,477 DKK 22.4K
92.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.7
209.46%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Hellerup: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $968 in Hellerup. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $117 in Hellerup for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $408 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 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 Playa del Carmen and in Hellerup?
You'd need roughly $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $3,433 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 compared to Hellerup?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $968 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 and in Hellerup?
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 Playa del Carmen compared to Hellerup?
All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,289 in Hellerup – 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 Playa del Carmen or in Hellerup?
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, Playa del Carmen or Hellerup?
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 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 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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