Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ilha Grande or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Arequipa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ilha Grande or Arequipa?
Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is a large, beautiful, island located off the southeast coast of Brazil. The island has few inhabitants, resulting in mostly unadulterated beaches and landscapes. There are over a dozen trails and beaches to explore, some of which have been called the best beaches in Brazil. Due to the limited number of inhabitants, ATMs are sparse on the island, so be sure to have cash with you before getting there.
Arequipa
Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
-
Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $80Arequipa $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $80, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $60. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Ilha Grande and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $35Arequipa $24
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $70Arequipa $48
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Arequipa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $17Arequipa $6.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $182
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $182
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$1.43
-
Bus Ride$0.46
-
Taxi Ride$1.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $38
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Koh lanta any hotel to Phuket airport Private transfer: $172
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
- Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $147
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $283
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Ilha Grande change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayIlha Grande $35Arequipa $25
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
-
Coke$0.43
-
Lunch$3.01
-
Ice Cream$1.15
-
Fruit$0.86
-
Ice Cream$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Food Tour Gastronomic Guided : $113
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.36Arequipa $19
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Regular Schooner Ride - Ilha Grande Tour: $12
- Speedboat Tour Paradise Lagoons of Ilha Grande: $13
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $18
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
- Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $32
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $42
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $42
- Six hour speedboat tour of Ilha Grande. Be amazed by the Blue and Green Lagoons: $55
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $56
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $63
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Monastery Entry$2.87
-
Salsa Class$2.87
-
Movie Ticket$3.13
-
Hot Springs$2.87
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Colca Full Day Tour: $51
- Walking tour history, legends & mysteries : $28
- 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $295
- 2 Days of Natural Experience in the Colca Canyon: $140
- 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa: $110
- 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $90
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 2-Day tour Colca Canyon ending in Puno: $95
- 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
- 3-hour guided tour in Arequipa: $65
- 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $20
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $10Arequipa $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
-
Beer$2.58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Arequipa, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ilha Grande would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ilha Grande than you might in Arequipa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ilha Grande Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.