Cost of living comparison
Cairns is 1.7% more expensive than Brisbane.
- Restaurants
-
pay 6.4% more in Cairns
- Groceries
-
pay 9.4% more in Cairns
- Transportation
-
pay 9.6% more in Cairns
- Housing
-
pay 16.5% less in Cairns
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.8% less in Cairns
- Clothing
-
pay 6.3% more in Cairns
The cost of transportation, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in Cairns are more expensive than in Brisbane. Expenses including housing and entertainment and sports are lower in Cairns.
If you lived in Cairns instead of Brisbane, you would:
pay 6.4% more for restaurants
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$14.83
A$23.21
|
$15.49
A$24.24
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.89
A$15.47
|
$9.89
A$15.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.71
A$4.24
|
$2.97
A$4.64
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.35
A$3.67
|
$2.47
A$3.87
|
|
pay 9.4% more for groceries
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.32
A$3.64
|
$2.49
A$3.90
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.31
A$6.75
|
$4.06
A$6.36
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.12
A$9.58
|
$6.49
A$10.15
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.30
A$6.73
|
$4.04
A$6.32
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.83
A$6.00
|
$4.27
A$6.69
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.40
A$2.19
|
$1.38
A$2.16
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.25
A$1.96
|
$1.04
A$1.63
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.16
A$1.81
|
$1.25
A$1.95
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.76
A$2.75
|
$3.31
A$5.18
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.04
A$1.63
|
$1.04
A$1.63
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.92
A$1.45
|
$1.05
A$1.64
|
|
pay 9.6% more for transportation
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.96
A$7.76
|
$4.29
A$6.72
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$112.69
A$176.40
|
$65.90
A$103.16
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,334.99
A$44,352.13
|
$23,066.04
A$36,104.77
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.55
A$24.34
|
$32.95
A$51.58
|
|
pay 16.5% less for housing
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.86
A$84.30
|
$60.14
A$94.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,627.54
A$2,547.55
|
$1,090.69
A$1,707.24
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,349.97
A$2,113.07
|
$943.73
A$1,477.20
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$137.72
A$215.57
|
$117.59
A$184.06
|
|
pay (unknown) more for childcare
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,662.55
A$2,602.36
|
?? | |
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,828.46
A$13,819.00
|
?? |
pay 4.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.91
A$12.38
|
$6.59
A$10.32
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.69
A$5.77
|
$4.12
A$6.45
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$26.36
A$41.26
|
$29.66
A$46.42
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.94
A$82.86
|
$38.66
A$60.52
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.18
A$20.63
|
$13.18
A$20.63
|
|
pay 6.3% more for clothing
|
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$73.99
A$115.81
|
$67.88
A$106.25
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.31
A$67.79
|
$62.61
A$98.00
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$102.88
A$161.04
|
$72.27
A$113.13
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$101.67
A$159.14
|
$120.82
A$189.12
|
|
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