Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ilha Grande or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Jaco? 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 Jaco?
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.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Jaco $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $104. 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 Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Jaco $67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Jaco? 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: Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Jaco -
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: $37
- 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
- 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
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco 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 dayIlha Grande $21Jaco $21
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
-
Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
-
Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
-
Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
-
Ice Cream$5.92
-
Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
-
Fruit Plate$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Jaco $60
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Dance Class$9.82
-
Surf Lesson$49
-
Bike Rental$9.82
-
Tortuga Island Tour$98
-
Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle & River ATV Adventure, 2 hours / Jacó: $95
- Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
- 2 Hour Private Ranch Experience in Quebrada Amarilla: $120
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
- 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $110
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
- 4×4 Waterfalls and Jungle Experience: $80
- 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $115
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Jaco $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
-
Wine$15
-
Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Jaco, we can see that Jaco 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 Jaco 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 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco 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 Jaco 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.