Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $82San Carlos de Bariloche $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $82, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $83. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $36San Carlos de Bariloche $68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $72San Carlos de Bariloche $136
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 $18San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
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
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $49
- Regular transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $52
- Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $35
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown: $25
- Shared One Way Transfer from Bariloche Airport to Hotel: $15
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $20
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche Center: $75
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $48
- Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $172
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $138
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $57
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $72
- Private Transfer from Camping los Rápidos to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $95
- Private Transfer from Bariloche City to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $35San Carlos de Bariloche $5.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: TRE Experience – “Three-Course Dinner. Catena Zapata”: $135
- Bariloche: El Mallín. Dinner with Tango Show: $185
- Bariloche: Winter Night – Evening Activities in the Snow with Dinner and Show: $275
- Bariloche Nordic Night: Quad Bike Ride and Dinner on Cerro Otto: $410
- Bariloche: Snowmobile Ride with 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Snow Adventure and 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Evening Snowmobile Ride with Dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $428
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.50San Carlos de Bariloche $32
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
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $35
- Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $36
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $47
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $61
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $63
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $69
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $77
- Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $81
- Speedboat Tour Lagoons Route of Ilha Grande: $85
- Angra dos Reis Lagoons Shared Speedboat Tour: $86
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Adventure motorcycle and snow on Otto Hill: $42
- Bariloche Chocolate Sightseeing Tour: Patagonian Flavors Walking Tour: $60
- Bariloche Flavours Tasting Walking Tour: $100
- Bariloche Football Experience with Locals & Traditional BBQ: $60
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $215
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes: $110
- Bariloche: Andean Region Tour to El Bolsón & Lago Puelo: $70
- Bariloche: Beer Experience 'Discover the World of Craft Beer': $150
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $140
- Bariloche: Brazo Tristeza Boat Tour and Forest Hike: $82
- Bariloche: Canopy Tour on Cerro Lopez: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $10San Carlos de Bariloche $8.49
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche 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.