Which place is cheaper, Cartagena 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.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Cartagena? 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 Cartagena?
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.
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $84Cartagena $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $84, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $65. 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 Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Cartagena $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Cartagena $64
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Cartagena? 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Cartagena $8.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Regular transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $51
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- Transfer from your Hotel, Airbnb, home to the Airport: $24
- Transfer from Hotels to Rafael Nuñez Cartagena Airport: $23
- Transfer from Airport to Hotels in Cartagena Manzanillo and Barú: $62
- Transfer by speedboat (1 way) Cartagena Islas del Rosario: $50
- Transfer Private Airport Hotel in Cartagena: $96
- Transfer Cartagena: $53
- The best private Transfer from/to Cartagena airport. ONE WAY: $27
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG): $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena 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 $36Cartagena $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- PROFESSIONAL STREET FOOD TOUR With AUTHENTIC TASTINGS: $39
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR WITH MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR with MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- Cartagena Bites & Stories: Local Street Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour History °Cafe Cartagena Tasting: $40
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
- Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $43
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $52
- Sunset and Bright Plankton with Dinner at Playa Tranquila Baru: $53
- Street Food Tour with a local Foodie in Cartagena: $55
- Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience): $59
- Cartagena Street Food Tour: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.62Cartagena $25
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: $13
- Escuna Tour to Angra Beaches of Dos Reis & Grand Island: $20
- Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $28
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $35
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $46
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $52
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $60
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $64
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
- A tour of the paradisiacal islands of Angra dos Reis.: $75
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $75
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour.: $140
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $32
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $135
- 2 Hours Cartagena Sunset Bay Cruise with Drinks: $39
- 2 hrs Tour in Cartagena Bay with Sunset View: $35
- 2-Hour Cartagena Bay Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $65
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $70
- 2-Hour Tour of Getsemani Color and Art: $80
- 3 Private Islands Experience in Cartagena: $120
- 4 Destinations VIP Tour of Rosario Islands with Snorkeling and Lunch: $105
- 4 Hour Volcan de Lodo Private Tour: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Cartagena $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club): $16
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $26
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $40
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena: $45
- Ultimate Party Combo Cartagena Sunset Boat Party & Pub Crawl: $57
- Pub Crawl: $70
- Wine in the Wild: A Nature-Inspired Wine Tasting near Cartagena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Cartagena, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Cartagena.
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 Cartagena 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.