Cost of living comparison
Cairns is 11.5% cheaper than Canberra.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.6% less in Cairns
- Groceries
-
pay 7.7% less in Cairns
- Transportation
-
pay 1.4% more in Cairns
- Housing
-
pay 28.9% less in Cairns
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.8% less in Cairns
- Clothing
-
pay 24.1% less in Cairns
Expenses including housing, clothing, groceries, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are lower in Cairns.
If you lived in Cairns instead of Canberra, you would:
pay 2.6% less for restaurants
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.77
A$30.44
|
$15.49
A$23.84
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.89
A$15.22
|
$9.89
A$15.22
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.76
A$4.25
|
$2.97
A$4.57
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.32
A$3.57
|
$2.47
A$3.80
|
|
pay 7.7% less for groceries
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.59
A$3.98
|
$2.49
A$3.83
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.39
A$8.30
|
$4.06
A$6.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.59
A$10.14
|
$6.49
A$9.98
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.63
A$7.13
|
$4.04
A$6.21
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.12
A$6.34
|
$4.27
A$6.58
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.62
A$2.49
|
$1.38
A$2.13
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.34
A$2.07
|
$1.04
A$1.60
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.57
A$2.41
|
$1.25
A$1.92
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.46
A$3.79
|
$3.31
A$5.10
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.25
A$1.92
|
$1.04
A$1.60
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
A$1.71
|
$1.05
A$1.61
|
|
pay 1.4% more for transportation
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.07
A$7.81
|
$4.29
A$6.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$118.63
A$182.61
|
$65.90
A$101.45
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$29,276.08
A$45,067.86
|
$23,066.04
A$35,508.08
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.66
A$27.19
|
$32.95
A$50.73
|
|
pay 28.9% less for housing
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.39
A$100.66
|
$60.14
A$92.57
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,783.31
A$2,745.24
|
$1,090.69
A$1,679.02
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,413.05
A$2,175.26
|
$943.73
A$1,452.79
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$183.02
A$281.74
|
$117.59
A$181.02
|
|
pay (unknown) more for childcare
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,847.17
A$2,843.54
|
?? | |
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,503.36
A$22,326.61
|
?? |
pay 6.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.25
A$11.16
|
$6.59
A$10.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.68
A$5.67
|
$4.12
A$6.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$26.36
A$40.58
|
$29.66
A$45.65
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$65.69
A$101.12
|
$38.66
A$59.52
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.33
A$22.07
|
$13.18
A$20.29
|
|
pay 24.1% less for clothing
|
Canberra
|
Cairns
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$86.77
A$133.58
|
$67.88
A$104.50
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$72.18
A$111.12
|
$62.61
A$96.38
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$119.51
A$183.98
|
$72.27
A$111.26
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$154.17
A$237.34
|
$120.82
A$185.99
|
|
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