Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68San Carlos de Bariloche $7.40
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.40. 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 $37San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74San Carlos de Bariloche $5.36
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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18San Carlos de Bariloche $2.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
- From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $38
- From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $47
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
- Shuttle Transfer from Ilha Grande (Abraão) to Paraty: $79
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $106
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $190
- All Private Transfer from Ilha Grande to Rio de Janeiro: $275
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Visit to Piedras Blancas Bariloche with transfers: $52
- Transfers to and from San Martín de los Andes: $295
- Transfers in Bariloche: $22
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $26
- Shared Transfer One Way - Bariloche Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $26
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
- Private transfer Bariloche Airpot- Hotels: $13
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $54
- Private Transfer from Puerto Pañuelo to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $181
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $46
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 $21San Carlos de Bariloche $2.78
Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
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Pastries$0.01
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Empanadas$0.03
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61San Carlos de Bariloche $3.05
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
- From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
- Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
- Six hour speedboat tour of Ilha Grande. Be amazed by the Blue and Green Lagoons: $40
- Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $43
- Rio de Janeiro: Ilha Grande with Boat Tour & Optional Lunch: $48
- Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $50
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
- Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
- Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
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: $60
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $197
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $130
- Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
- Bariloche: Blest Port and Cantaros Waterfall Tour : $170
- Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
- Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
- Bariloche: Private Enchanted Valley Tour with Lunch: $495
- Classic Bariloche: Half-Day Sightseeing Excursion: $26
- From Bariloche: Half-Day Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour: $38
- From Bariloche: Victoria Island & the Arrayanes Forest Tour: $128
- From Rio Manso Rafting Tour: $185
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11San Carlos de Bariloche $1.83
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche.
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.