A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Ilha Grande for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Ilha Grande?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and Ilha Grande can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Ilha Grande?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Ilha Grande or Mar del Plata?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $9.01, while the average daily cost in Ilha Grande is $70. 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 Mar del Plata and Ilha Grande in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mar del Plata $3.23
    Ilha Grande $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mar del Plata $6.46
    Ilha Grande $76
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Ilha Grande

Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata or Ilha Grande? 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.

Hotels in Mar del Plata


Hotels in Ilha Grande


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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.56
    Ilha Grande $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • All Private Transfer from Ilha Grande to Rio de Janeiro: $275
  • Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
  • Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $195
  • Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $195
  • Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
  • From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $108
  • Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Shuttle Transfer from Ilha Grande (Abraão) to Paraty: $79
  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
  • From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $48
  • Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $39
  • From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Ilha Grande?

Prices for flights to both Ilha Grande and Mar del Plata 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mar del Plata $3.91
    Ilha Grande $21

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.33
    Ilha Grande $6.83

Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande

For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 360 Tour of Ilha Grande - Speed Boat Tour: $74
  • Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $79
  • Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
  • Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
  • From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
  • From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
  • Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
  • Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
  • Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
  • Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
  • Walking Abraão Historical Tour and Natural Pool: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mar del Plata $1.82
    Ilha Grande $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Ilha Grande, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Ilha Grande Expensive?.