Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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 Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Saint Thomas? 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 Thomas?
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 Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $85Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $85, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Saint Thomas? 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 $18Saint Thomas $37
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
- Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $51
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vi Top Taxi -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Vi Top Taxi - St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $180
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours - Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton: $180
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $81
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $96
- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Redhook Ferry: $180
- St.Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $267
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $180
- St. Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - Arrival Private Transfer: $133
- St. Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - Arrival Private Transfer: $96
- St Thomas Airport Private Transfers to Bouy haus: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $37Saint Thomas $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $109
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to Lovango w/ Open Bar and Hors D'oeuvres: $139
- Flavors of St Thomas Walking Food Tour: $145
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.72Saint Thomas $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:
- Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $85
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
- Angra Paradise Islands Speedboat Tour: $91
- Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $80
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $75
- Boat Adventure in the Paradise Islands of Angra dos Reis: $111
- Boat Adventure through the Super Blue Lagoon in Angra dos Reis: $111
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $20
- Discover Angra Dos Reis Shared Walking Tour: $206
- Diving Adventures in Angra dos Reis: $242
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Aerial Sightseeing Adventure!: $250
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $127
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Cas Cay - Kayak Hike and Snorkel Adventure: $79
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise from Sapphire Beach Resort: $130
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $169
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Tour: $159
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Da Conch Crawl- Walking Tour and Bar Crawl Downtown St. Thomas: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Thomas 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 Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Thomas 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.