Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Alexandria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Alexandria or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Cairns can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Cairns?
Alexandria
There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Alexandria Prices
Egypt PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $29Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $29, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $116. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Alexandria and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $11Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $22Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Cairns? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $3.92Cairns $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $45
- Private Transfer from or to Borg Al Arab Airport: $14
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to El Cairo: $102
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo or vice versa: $160
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $230
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $43
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Cruise Port to Cairo City Hotels: $230
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport to Alexandria Hotels: $40
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria Port: $43
- Private Transfer Alexandria Hotel to Borg El Arab Airport: $24
- Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
- Private Day Trip To Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Old Cairo By Private Transfers: $8.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (6am-5pm): $40
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $24
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Palm Cove - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $171
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
- Cairns Airport Transfers: $160
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer 1-7 Pax: $174
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Alexandria 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAlexandria $15Cairns $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Private Full-Day Food Tour of Alexandria with Hotel Pick Up: $33
- Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
- Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
- Private Food Tour To The Famous Restaurant In Alexandria : $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $66,130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $5.47Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Cairo Tour of Pyramids, GEM and Khan Al-Khalili: $290
- 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
- 2 Days-Alexandria & Pyramids Tour + Museum (Start Cairo Or Alex): $125
- 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
- ALL inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids Sakkara from Alexandria Port: $175
- Alamein and Alexandria Private Day Tour with Lunch: $200
- Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130
- Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $150
- Alexandria By Night By Horse Carriage ride And Free Walking Tour: $71
- Alexandria City Tour from Cairo Full Day: $121
- Alexandria Day Tour: $105
- Alexandria Day Tour Visit the Tob attractions of Alexandria City: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $10
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $15
- Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $26
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
- Cairns Tomb Of The Pharaohs General Admission Ticket: $32
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $34
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $37
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.48Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa and Cairns is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Cairns would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairns than you might in Alexandria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Cairns?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Cairns, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Alexandria or Cairns?
Cairns has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Alexandria experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Alexandria or Cairns in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Alexandria as well as Cairns. Alexandria attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Alexandria is cooler than Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Alexandria usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAlexandria 26°C (79°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Alexandria are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Alexandria throughout the year. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
In the autumn, Alexandria is cooler than Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Alexandria in October average around 22°C (72°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. In October, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Cairns is April to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAlexandria 22°C (72°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Alexandria during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Alexandria because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Alexandria is generally much colder than Cairnsin July. Daily temperatures in Alexandria average around 13°C (55°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Alexandria usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Alexandria gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAlexandria 13°C (55°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Alexandria and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Alexandria year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairns in the spring for the beaches.
Alexandria is cooler than Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
In April, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Cairnsin October. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. April to October in Cairns is the dry season. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAlexandria 19°C (66°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Alexandria
| Alexandria | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.