Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Cairns?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cairns or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cairns or Boracay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cairns or Boracay?
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.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, and The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairns $94Boracay $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairns is $94, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $56. 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 Cairns and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairns $43Boracay $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairns $86Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Cairns and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Cairns or Boracay? 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: Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairns $12Boracay $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer - Cairns Airport to City: $58
- Airport Transfer - Cairns Airport to Northern Beaches: $59
- Airport Transfer - Northern Beaches to Cairns Airport: $73
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $14
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $20
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (CNS Airport to Cairns Hotels or Address): $147
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $123
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Palm Cove - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $100
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $134
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Cairns Cruise Port: $159
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Cairns city hotels: $241
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Palm Cove hotels: $168
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $81
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $59
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $30
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $54
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $41
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $69
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairns or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Cairns 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
-
Food Meals for one dayCairns $28Boracay $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cairns Luxury Catamaran Harbor and Dinner Cruise: $85
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $91
- Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $117
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $149
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairns $37Boracay $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
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 Single Admission Ticket: $9.91
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $26
- Entry Ticket at Historic Village Herberton: $28
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures General Entry Ticket: $30
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $34
- Sightseeing River Boat Safari with Soft Drinks: $36
- Sunset River Cruise with Snack and Drinks: $42
- Rusty's Market Foodlovers Tour: $43
- Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $43
- Cairns Botanic Gardens: Mushroom Photography Tour: $44
- Full Day Tour by Myroo X Deluxe Coach to Mission Beach: $46
- Aquarium Entry Ticket and Turtle Rehabilitation Tour: $47
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $26
- Aklan Tibiao Antique Tour : $190
- Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $63
- Best Boracay Sunset Party Boat Experience: $45
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.02
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $85
- Boracay Buggy Car Adventure: $105
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $105
- Boracay Eco-Hopping Tour: $86
- Boracay Helicopter Tour with Red Whale Party Yacht: $204
- Boracay Hopping Tour with Standard Boodle Fight Lunch: $36
- Boracay Island Hopping +Banana Boat (Shared Tour): $41
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairns $13Boracay $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Brewery Tours: $139
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairns and Boracay, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairns is in Pacific and Boracay is in Asia, 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 Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay 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 Boracay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairns Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairns or Boracay?
Cairns has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Cairns and Boracay, 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.
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.