Which place is cheaper, Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Grand Cayman? 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 Grand Cayman?
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.
Grand Cayman
When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, and The Best Eco Tours in Brazil.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesGrand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $83Grand Cayman $242
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $83, while the average daily cost in Grand Cayman is $242. 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 Grand Cayman in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Grand Cayman $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Grand Cayman $298
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Grand Cayman
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Grand Cayman? 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: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Grand Cayman $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $47
- Regular transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $50
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town-Arrival Private Transfer: $150
- Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) to George Town Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $150
- Airport Transfers to East End Accommodations (GCM) - Round Trip: $239
- Airport Transfer to West Bay Accommodations (GCM)-Round Trip: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Grand Cayman?
Prices for flights to both Grand Cayman 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 $36Grand Cayman $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.59Grand Cayman $41
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- A tour of the paradisiacal islands of Angra dos Reis.: $75
- Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $83
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
- Angra Paradise Islands Speedboat Tour: $89
- Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $78
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $74
- Boat Adventure through the Super Blue Lagoon in Angra dos Reis: $109
- Diving Adventures in Angra dos Reis: $237
- Escuna Tour to Angra Beaches of Dos Reis & Grand Island: $20
- Explore Paraty with Rafting Adventure: $158
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $66
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $45
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-stop Adventure: Stingray City and snorkeling at Cayman Reefs: $109
- 3 Stop Boat Tour Stingray City Coral Gardens and Starfish Point: $65
- 3-Stop Stingray City, Reef Snorkel & Starfish Point Tour: $79
- 4 Stops Tour: Stingray, Snorkeling, Starfish & 7 Mile Beach: $60
- 4-Stop Ultimate Grand Cayman Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach Tour: $99
- Bioluminescent Bay Adventure in Grand Cayman: $139
- Bling and Beverages Cayman Jewelry Shopping Experience: $22
- Cayman Best Stingray City Reef Snorkel and Starfish Point Tour: $63
- Cayman Combo Tour Stingray City, Starfish Point & Reef Snorkeling: $119
- Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman: $143
- Cayman Ultimate Tour: Stingray City, Snorkeling & Beach Lunch: $189
- Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Grand Cayman $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.95
Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24
- Taste of Cayman Distillery Experience: $75
- Distillery Tour with Gin Tasting: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Grand Cayman, we can see that Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Grand Cayman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman 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.