Which place is cheaper, Quito 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 Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Quito? 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 Quito?
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.
Quito
Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center – one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.
Even though Quito is full of people – in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country – very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.
Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $85Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $85, while the average daily cost in Quito is $66. 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 Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Quito? 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: Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
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Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
- Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel or vice versa with bilingual driver-guide: $43
- Quito hotels to Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Quito hotels to Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $36
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito Airport ↔ Quito Hotels Private Transfer Service: $27
- Private Transfer to Quito airport and hotel: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito 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 $37Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Ecuadorian Gastronomy Tasting and Cooking Class in Quito: $12
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Quito Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $66
- The Delicious Side of Quito Food Tour: $70
- 3-hour Andean Cooking Class in Quito with a Local Host: $85
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $122
- Quito Food Tour Where my Family Go Urban Art New &Old Quito City: $155
- Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.72Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Regular Schooner Ride - Ilha Grande Tour: $13
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $20
- Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $27
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $35
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $47
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $52
- 6-Hour Speedboat Tour to Blue and Green Lagoons: $55
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $61
- 7h Speedboat Tour of Paradise Islands: $61
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $68
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to Guyasimine Museum for Two$8.00
Tours and Activities in Quito
Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Condor Tour from Quito: $220
- Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $210
- Baños Full Day Tour from Quito Including Entrances and Activities: $89
- Banos Highlights Tour - Adventure & Nature in One Day from Quito: $260
- Cable Car Quito & Volcano Pichincha Trekking – Full Day Tour: $200
- Cable Car and Quito Private City Tour: $89
- City Tour in Quito. Muffin, Cable Car, Historic Center and Middle of the World: $150
- Cotopaxi & Baños Full Day Tour from Quito Adventure in the Andes: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
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Beers for Two$9.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Quito
Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Quito, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Quito would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quito 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 Quito.
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 Quito 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.