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Brisbane vs Cairns cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฆ๐บ Brisbane
๐ฆ๐บ Cairns
At a glance
- Where Cairns is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (29%โ), Beer (25%โ), Haircut (25%โ)
- Where Brisbane is clearly cheaper: Laundry (45%โ), SIM card (43%โ), Half-day tour (33%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Brisbane is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.8). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Brisbane 1 vs Cairns 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Brisbane | Cairns | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | A$ 24$16 | A$ 25$16.7 | similar |
| Street food1 item | A$ 15$10 | A$ 15$10 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | A$ 55$36.7 | A$ 55$36.7 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | A$ 6$4 | A$ 5.5$3.67 | Cairns โ8% |
| Beerone bottle | A$ 12$8 | A$ 9$6 | Cairns โ25% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | A$ 21$14 | A$ 15$10 | Cairns โ29% |
| Bottled water | A$ 2.5$1.67 | A$ 3$2 | Brisbane โ17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | A$ 4$2.67 | A$ 4.5$3 | Brisbane โ11% |
| Taxi5 km in town | A$ 18$12 | A$ 19$12.7 | Brisbane โ5% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | A$ 10$6.67 | A$ 10$6.67 | similar |
| Transitone ride | A$ 0.5$0.33 | A$ 0.5$0.33 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | A$ 35$23.3 | A$ 35$23.3 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | A$ 180$120 | A$ 145$96.7 | Cairns โ19% |
| Studio rent (month) | A$ 2,300$1,533 | A$ 2,100$1,400 | Cairns โ9% |
| Laundry | A$ 5.5$3.67 | A$ 10$6.67 | Brisbane โ45% |
| SIM card1 week data | A$ 17$11.3 | A$ 30$20 | Brisbane โ43% |
| Haircutcut | A$ 40$26.7 | A$ 30$20 | Cairns โ25% |
| Massage1 hour | A$ 85$56.7 | A$ 80$53.3 | Cairns โ6% |
| Half-day tourper person | A$ 120$80 | A$ 180$120 | Brisbane โ33% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | A$ 63$42 | A$ 55$36.7 | Cairns โ13% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Brisbane or Cairns?
Brisbane and Cairns cost about the same. Daily budget $248 vs $227; a month $5,404 vs $5,741.
Which is easier to travel, Brisbane or Cairns?
Brisbane is easier: Brisbane 1.4/5 vs Cairns 1.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Brisbane and Cairns?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Brisbane is about $5,404 and Cairns about $5,741 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.