Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Ushuaia? 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 Ushuaia?
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.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesUshuaia Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $82Ushuaia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $82, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $0.00. 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 Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $36Ushuaia -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $72Ushuaia $0.00
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Ushuaia? 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 $18Ushuaia -
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
- Regular transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $52
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $49
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Cerro Castor: $25
- Tierra del Fuego National park taxi Transfer: $299
- Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour & Transfers: $77
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $143
- Antarctic Experience W/Snowmobile Ride & Transfer: $294
- Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Ushuaia in 4 days: Unmissable excursions and transfers included: $270
- Ushuaia Low cost Transfers: $17
- Ushuaia Combo: Tierra del Fuego National Park & Round Trip Transfers to airport: $135
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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 $35Ushuaia -
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Martial Glacier Night Hike with Dinner & Wine: $100
- Ushuaia - Secrets of Tierra del Fuego - History + Quad + Dinner: $140
- Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
- Ushuaia-Premier Pass (Motorcycle + Snowmobile + Skiing + Tubes + Snowshoes + Quad + Lunch + Pizza): $290
- Fire and Snow Night Tour with Dinner: $307
- Snow Adventure with Dinner & Transfers: $315
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.50Ushuaia -
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: $86
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $63
- Angra Paradise Islands Speedboat Tour: $92
- Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $81
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $77
- Angra dos Reis Lagoons Shared Speedboat Tour: $86
- Boat Adventure through the Super Blue Lagoon in Angra dos Reis: $113
- Boat Tour of the Paradise Islands of Angra: $91
- Diving Adventures in Angra dos Reis: $246
- Explore Paraty with Rafting Adventure: $164
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $69
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $47
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour: Tierra del Fuego National Park + Fagnano and Escondido Lakes: $175
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $200
- 4WD Adventure at Fagnano Lake from Ushuaia: $239
- 4x4 Lake Fagnano Adventure from Ushuaia: $229
- 5.5-Hour National park w/ hiking Shore excursion - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $290
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
- Albino's Eye Glacier Full-Day Trekking Tour from Ushuaia: $208
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $71
- Beagle Channel Cruise & Bridges Islands Hike from Ushuaia: $82
- Beagle Channel Kayaking Adventure in Ushuaia: $109
- Beagle Channel Sailing Experience on a Catamaran: $105
- Beagle Channel Wildlife Cruise & Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse: $172
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $10Ushuaia -
Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:
- Photo tour and Wine Tasting in Ushuaia City: $87
- City tour and Wine tasting: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Ushuaia, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
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 Ushuaia 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.