Is Cairns expensive to live?

Compared with Australia's capital cities, Cairns is a far more affordable place to buy a house, send a child to private school, use childcare and park your car! Cost-of-living estimates for Cairns come in around $1500-$2100 monthly*, far lower than capital cities and on par with other major regional centres.



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Units in Cairns North top the list for highest property price declines, and this is due to the loss of international visitors that typically flock to the Queensland city. “Cairns' reliance on tourism is a big factor in its relatively poor performance,” Conisbee said.

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Cairns is a great place to live. Has plenty of shopping, fabulous beaches, restruants and things to do. In fact, if I DIDn't already live in CAIRNS, I'd move here! Just be prepared for a hot,steamy summer.

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According to Expatistan, this means Australia is one of the most expensive countries to live (ranked 9 out of 69). Generally, a higher cost of living means that basic expenses have become – well, expensive.

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Winter (June – August) Winter in Cairns brings slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity, making it the peak tourist season. Average temperatures range from 17.5 - 26°C (63.5 - 78.8°F) and there is low rainfall.

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Cairns is undoubtedly the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest reef system comprised of over 2,900 individual reefs. Each year, people flock to the reef from around the world to swim, snorkel, and dive with the more than 1,500 marine species that call the reef home.

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Data from CoreLogic to October 2018 has revealed Babinda, 45 minutes' drive from Cairns CBD, offers the most affordable homes in the city with a 12-month median house price of just $220,000.

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It's a great place to live if you want a more natural life, if you like to hike, or if you'd like to see your kids out riding bikes or jumping in creeks after school. Cairns is also a great place to live if you'd like to make an impact in your community or career.

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