Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Guatemala City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City?
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.
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
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, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Guatemala City $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $44. 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 Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Guatemala City $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Guatemala City? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Guatemala City $6.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
- From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $37
- From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $47
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $106
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $187
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $190
- Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
- Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $45
- PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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 $21Guatemala City $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Guatemala City $1.21
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
- Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
- Six hour speedboat tour of Ilha Grande. Be amazed by the Blue and Green Lagoons: $40
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $43
- Rio de Janeiro: Ilha Grande with Boat Tour & Optional Lunch: $48
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $50
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
- Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
- Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
- Chichicastenango - Panajachel collective tour: $150
- Chichicastenango Market Tour: $116
- City Tour - Test Fly by Escuela de Flight S.A: $158
- Climb Active Pacaya Volcano + Box Lunch at the Top - Shared Tour: $75
- Combo Tour: Colonial Antigua & Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $65
- Culinary Experience in Guatemala City: $15
- Discover a Lagoon on the Crater of Ipala Volcano - Private Full Day Tour: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Guatemala City $6.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Guatemala City, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ilha Grande is in South America and Guatemala City is in Central 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.
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 Guatemala City 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.