Which place is cheaper, Cozumel or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Cozumel?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Cozumel? 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 Cozumel?
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.
Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Cozumel $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $118. 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 Cozumel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Cozumel $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Cozumel $140
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Cozumel
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Cozumel? 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: Cozumel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Cozumel $23
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 Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $190
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $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: $106
- 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: $47
- 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 Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wild Jade Cavern Private ATV Tour With Transfer: $86
- Private Transfer from Cozumel hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Cozumel Airport: $110
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) Cozumel - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $87
- Cuban Cigar Master Class & Beach Break® with transfer: $153
- Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $30
- Cozumel to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM)Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Cozumel Private Airport Transfer: $150
- Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport CZM Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Cozumel Island hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Cozumel Island Transfers: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Cozumel?
Prices for flights to both Cozumel 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 $21Cozumel $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel
For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Cozumel $44
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: $77
- 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 Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- Island Tour With Private Driver : $56
- Private Cozumel Jeep Tour & Jade Caverns Cenote: All-Inclusive: $85
- Romantic tour in Cozumel: $127
- 1 Hour and Half Private Tropical Fitness Experience in Cozumel: $6.03
- 15-minute Private Parasailing Experience in Cozumel: $69
- 2 Hour Discover Mermaid Experience : $20
- 2 Hour Diving Experience in San Miguel de Cozumel: $88
- 4 Hour Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel: $65
- 4 Hours Experience the turtle sanctuary on La Chula Catamarán : $78
- 4-Hour Jeep and ATV Tour with Snorkel in Cozumel with Lunch: $99
- A Pirate's Adventure in Cozumel with Captain Draco : $80
- A snorkeling adventure in a glass-bottom boat at Cozumel's reef.: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Cozumel $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Cozumel, we can see that Cozumel is more expensive. And not only is Ilha Grande much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ilha Grande is in South America and Cozumel is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ilha Grande would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ilha Grande 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 Cozumel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cozumel than you might in Ilha Grande.
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 Cozumel 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.