A Travel Price Comparison for Brazil Ilha Grande vs. Florianopolis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Florianopolis?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Florianopolis? 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 Florianopolis?

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.

Florianopolis

With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.

Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Florianopolis or Ilha Grande?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Florianopolis is $62. 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 Florianopolis in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Florianopolis $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Florianopolis $52
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Florianopolis

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Florianopolis? 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.

Hotels in Ilha Grande


Hotels in Florianopolis


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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Florianopolis $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $38
  • Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $192
  • Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $191
  • Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $106
  • From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
  • From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $47
  • From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
  • From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
  • Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $78
  • Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
  • Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
  • Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
  • Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $84
  • Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
  • Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
  • One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
  • Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
  • Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Florianopolis?

Prices for flights to both Florianopolis 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 day
    Ilha Grande $21
    Florianopolis $22

Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.61
    Florianopolis $26

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: $71
  • 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
  • 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
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60

Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Internet
    $0.59

Tours and Activities in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
  • Bike Tour in Florianopolis - Sunset, Photography and History: $70
  • Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
  • Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
  • Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
  • Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
  • Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $32
  • Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
  • Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $42
  • Mountain biking experiences in Florianópolis: $58
  • Private Day Tour: Florianópolis Island with Professional Pictures: $154
  • Private South Island Beaches and Lagoons Tour: $44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Florianopolis $8.68

Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.59


When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and Florianopolis, we can see that Ilha Grande 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 Florianopolis Expensive?.