Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
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 Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesPunta Arenas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $80Punta Arenas $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $80, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $79. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $35Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $70Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Punta Arenas? 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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $17Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $182
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $182
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $35Punta Arenas $36
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.36Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Angra dos Reis Lagoons Shared Speedboat Tour: $78
- Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $67
- Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $76
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $69
- Boat Adventure through the Super Blue Lagoon in Angra dos Reis: $77
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $18
- Discover Angra’s Hidden Paradise Islands by Speedboat Tour: $78
- Diving Adventures in Angra dos Reis: $177
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $65
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $63
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $42
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
- For Cruise-ship passengers: Magdalena Island (Penguins): $200
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Guided Tour of Punta Arenas and Fort Bulnes: $300
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
- Magallanes National Reserve and Punta Arenas City Tour: $165
- Magdalena Island Penguin Boat Tour and Marta Island: $165
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $10Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.33
When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas 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.