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