Which place is cheaper, Saint John's 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 Saint John's?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Saint John's? 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 Saint John's?
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.
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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 PricesSaint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $80Saint John's $272
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $80, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $272. 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 Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $35Saint John's $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $70Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Saint John's? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $17Saint John's $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: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $182
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $182
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $57
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $42
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $123
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $84
- Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
- Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer): $99
- Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's 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 $35Saint John's $117
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
- Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.36Saint John's $103
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: $12
- Speedboat Tour Paradise Lagoons of Ilha Grande: $13
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $18
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
- Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $32
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $42
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $42
- Six hour speedboat tour of Ilha Grande. Be amazed by the Blue and Green Lagoons: $55
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $56
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $63
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Island Flava Discovery Tour: $150
- 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $195
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $221
- Antigua Eco Island Tour (City, Country, Beach, & Heritage Sites): $199
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $172
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua VIP Tours - Private Platinum Tour: $170
- Antigua VIP Tours - Semi-Private Gold Tour: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $10Saint John's $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's 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 Saint John's 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 Saint John's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's 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 Saint John's 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.