Which place is cheaper, Buzios or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Buzios?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Buzios? 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 Buzios?
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.
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Buzios $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Buzios is $77. 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 Buzios in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Buzios $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Buzios $74
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Buzios
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Buzios? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Buzios $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- All Private Transfer from Ilha Grande to Rio de Janeiro: $275
- Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $187
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $187
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
- From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $104
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
- From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $37
- From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $186
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $110
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $186
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $32
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $47
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $42
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Buzios?
Prices for flights to both Buzios 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
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Food Meals for one dayIlha Grande $21Buzios $24
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Buzios $27
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 360 Tour of Ilha Grande - Speed Boat Tour: $74
- Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $69
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $79
- Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
- From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
- From Rio: Full-Day Angra dos Reis Cruise & Island Tour: $76
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
- Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
- 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $34
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $128
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $99
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $116
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo Panoramic City Tour in Cabo Frio: $96
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $31
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Buzios $17
When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and Buzios, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Buzios 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.