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: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 in Hellerup.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,122 in Hellerup.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,110 in Hellerup.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 41% less than in Hellerup, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Hellerup is 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$23.20 DKK 151
-49.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$116 DKK 757
-63.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$13.88 DKK 90.5
-24.28%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$6.70 DKK 43.64
-46.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$4.32 DKK 28.18
-65.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$3.14 DKK 20.50
-70.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$9.25 DKK 60.3
-68.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$7.84 DKK 51.1
-43.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$2.00 DKK 13.03
-30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$3.24 DKK 21.14
-41.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$2.52 DKK 16.41
-38.10%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$4.84 DKK 31.57
-46.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$13.76 DKK 89.7
-39.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$10.67 DKK 69.5
-21.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$16.04 DKK 105
-32.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$3.12 DKK 20.31
-13.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$3.31 DKK 21.56
-54.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$3.54 DKK 23.06
-47.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$5.65 DKK 36.83
-61.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$2.39 DKK 15.57
-22.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$1.71 DKK 11.14
30.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$2.22 DKK 14.50
-51.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$1.01 DKK 6.56
7.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$10.21 DKK 66.5
-58.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$10.12 DKK 66.0
3.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$1.80 DKK 11.70
-7.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$2.15 DKK 14.04
21.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$3.74 DKK 24.38
-85.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
$63.5 DKK 414
-58.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$7.56 DKK 49.24
-59.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$2.04 DKK 13.30
17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$60.7 DKK 396
-94.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$2.26 DKK 14.76
-42.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$49.0K DKK 319.6K
-39.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$48.5K DKK 315.9K
-51.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$203 DKK 1,325
-60.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$17.90 DKK 117
26.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$41.12 DKK 268
-26.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$51.7 DKK 337
2.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
$34.59 DKK 225
-46.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$20.13 DKK 131
-75.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$592 DKK 3,860
-66.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$5,913 DKK 38.5K
-12.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$102 DKK 667
-64.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$35.72 DKK 233
12.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$119 DKK 773
-32.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$198 DKK 1,291
-56.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$930 DKK 6,063
5.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$698 DKK 4,552
-32.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$1,560 DKK 10.2K
5.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$2,834 DKK 18.5K
-57.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
$5,045 DKK 32.9K
-21.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
$3,287 DKK 21.4K
100.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Hellerup
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Hellerup: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $930 in Hellerup. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $116 in Hellerup for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $368 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 69% 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 $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $3,201 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $930 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 $42.00 versus $116 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 in Hellerup – a 69% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 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 $1,260 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 69% less than in Hellerup. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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