Should you visit Montevideo or Ilha Grande?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Montevideo and Ilha Grande can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Ilha Grande or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $44, while the average daily cost in Ilha Grande is $53. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Montevideo and Ilha Grande in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $56 for a double occupancy room in Montevideo If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $58 in Ilha Grande For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Montevideo costs travelers about $9.45 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Ilha Grande food costs typically run travelers around $16 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montevideo $9.45
Ilha Grande $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe.:
$75
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El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo:
$105
Local Transportation
Montevideo's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.14 per person, per day on transportation in Montevideo.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Ilha Grande than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $14 on transportation in Ilha Grande on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer MV Uruguay:
$37
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Transfer Airport to Hotel Regular:
$20
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TRANSFER IN/OUT (Airport, Port (MVD) - Hotel in MVD - Airport, Port (MVD)):
$20
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TRANSFER IN - OUT (Airport or Port / Hotel) - private transfer:
$25
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Private transfer: Montevideo Airport (MVD) to Montevideo:
$622
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Private Transfer Montevideo Airport:
$20
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Montevideo Airport:
$70
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Private Arrival Transfer: Montevideo Airport to Hotel:
$70
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Private Airport Transfer: Montevideo to Carrasco International Airport (MVD):
$40
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Private Airport Transfer: Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo:
$40
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PACK 3: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Colonia - Transfer out:
$190
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PACK 2: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Transfer out:
$110
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Ilha Grande?
Prices for flights to both Ilha Grande and Montevideo 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Montevideo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Ilha Grande, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $5.15 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
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2-day Uruguay Pass: City Tour Montevideo + Excursion to Punta del Este:
$142
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2-day Uruguay Pass: Montevideo City Tour + Excursion to Colonia de Sacramento:
$185
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BEST Cruise Passanger - Shared Tours:
$45
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Best Private & Personalized City Tour for cruise passengers (full day):
$170
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Best Private Montevideo Shore Excursion: City Tour. Optional WineTasting Tour.:
$145
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Best-Tours:
$1,090
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Bouza Winery Tour from Montevideo with Tastings and Tapas (Esp, Eng, Port):
$75
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City Tour Montevideo:
$25
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City Tour Montevideo:
$28
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Colonia del Sacramento - Full day tour from Montevideo:
$75
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Colonia del Sacramento - Full day tour from Montevideo:
$70
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Discover Montevideo Private Tour with a Local:
$75
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Ilha Grande spend on average $8.26 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
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Wine Tasting Tour - from Montevideo:
$75
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Private Winery Tour + Wine Tasting (Minimum 4 people):
$80
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Montevideo and Wine Tasting Tour - for cruise passengers:
$89
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Wine tasting - Uruguayan Tannat in Montevideo:
$103
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Private Visit to Uruguayan Winery + Lunch + Wine tasting (minimum 5 people):
$105
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Juanico Wine Tour Lunch:
$120
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Pack 5: Tour Montevideo, Punta del Este & Wine Tasting Tour:
$145
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Guided Private Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch:
$182
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Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
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Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour:
$259
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Ilha Grande, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.
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