Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Cheju (Jeju)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cheju (Jeju) and Cairns. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns?
Cheju (Jeju)
Cheju is an island located just off the southern coast of South Korea in the Korean Strait. It is known for its volcanic landscape full of craters and cave-like lava tubes, which many visitors venture to hike and explore. With the main industry invested in tourism, it is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners alike, and remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds.
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 Cultural Tours in South Korea, The Best Luxury Tours to South Korea, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCheju (Jeju) $76Cairns $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Cheju (Jeju) is $76, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $100. 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 Cheju (Jeju) and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCheju (Jeju) $48Cairns $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCheju (Jeju) $96Cairns $90
Compare Hotels in Cheju (Jeju) and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Cheju (Jeju) 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: Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cheju (Jeju) $11Cairns $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cheju (Jeju)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cheju (Jeju):
- jeju island Private Taxi Hallasan Hiking Trail Transfer - One way: $57
- Private Transfer From Seogwipo to Jeju Airport in jeju island: $25
- Private Transfer From Jeju Airport to in Seogwipo Jeju Island : $30
- Private Transfer From Airport to Downtown jeju çity Jeju Island: $25
- Private Tour in West Jeju Island with Transfer : $122
- Private Taxi Transfer from Jeju City Downtown to Jeju Airport: $50
- Private Taxi Transfer In Jeju Island: $90
- Private Jeju Airport Transfer : Jeju Airport to/from Jeju(~7 pax): $89
- Private Half-Day Udo Tour in Jeju Island with Roundtrip Transfer: $200
- One Way Transfer to or from Jeju Airport and Jeju si South Korea: $78
- Jeju Airport Transfer: $22
- Hallasan Seongpanak transfer,One way, Round trip: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Private Transfer from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $114
- Airport Transfer - Cairns Airport to City: $60
- Airport Transfer - Cairns Airport to Northern Beaches: $60
- Airport Transfer - Cairns City to Airport: $60
- Airport Transfer - Northern Beaches to Cairns Airport: $75
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $14
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $21
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (CNS Airport to Cairns Hotels or Address): $151
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $126
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Palm Cove - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $103
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $137
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Cairns Cruise Port: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Cheju (Jeju) 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 dayCheju (Jeju) $18Cairns $29
Typical Food Prices in Cheju (Jeju)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cheju (Jeju):
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Burger$4.73
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Donkatsu (Charles Restaurant)$7.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cheju (Jeju)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cheju (Jeju).
- JEJU Cooking Class _Class & Dinner at Jeju Seaside Sunset Terrace: $108
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $87
- Cairns Luxury Catamaran Harbor and Dinner Cruise: $88
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $98
- Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $121
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $155
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cheju (Jeju) $5.78Cairns $39
Tours and Activities in Cheju (Jeju)
Here are a few actual costs in Cheju (Jeju) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2Days Private Luxury Tour With Experienced Driver in Jeju island: $135
- Private Taxi Tour Hydrangea flower & Garden place in jeju island: $300
- 1-Day Jeju Island Tour For 'JEJU PORT' Cruise Guests: $69
- 1Day Tour to Jeju for Gangjeong Seogwipo Cruise Guests: $72
- 2 Days Private Tour with a Very Experienced Driver in Jeju Island: $150
- 2Days Limousine Taxi Tour with Experienced driver in jeju island: $170
- 3days Private Free Schedule Tour a lot of Experience Driver : $170
- 5Hour Private Taxi driver Tour in Jeju: $240
- Beautiful Jeju Island Private UNESCO day Tour : $85
- Cherry Blossom East Day Tour in Jeju: $114
- Customized private tour in Jeju island: $90
- East of Jeju island Bus Tour from Seogwipo city, Jeju island: $99
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$38
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $14
- Cairns Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $14
- Cairns Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $21
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $27
- Entry Ticket at Historic Village Herberton: $29
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures General Entry Ticket: $31
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $36
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $39
- Sightseeing River Boat Safari with Soft Drinks: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCheju (Jeju) $7.51Cairns $14
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: $144
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $165
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cheju (Jeju) and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Cheju (Jeju) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cheju (Jeju) is in Asia 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 Cheju (Jeju) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cheju (Jeju) Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns?
Cheju (Jeju) has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Cairns is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Cheju (Jeju) has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cheju (Jeju) as well as Cairns. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Cheju (Jeju) is generally cooler than Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Cheju (Jeju) average around 26°C (79°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Cheju (Jeju) receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cheju (Jeju) usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Cheju (Jeju) gets 230 mm (9.1 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 JanuaryCheju (Jeju) 26°C (79°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Cheju (Jeju) are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Cheju (Jeju) is much colder than Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cheju (Jeju) averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. In October, Cheju (Jeju) usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Cheju (Jeju) gets 74 mm (2.9 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 AprilCheju (Jeju) 18°C (64°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Cheju (Jeju) during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Cheju (Jeju) is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cheju (Jeju) in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
Cheju (Jeju) usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Cheju (Jeju) gets 62 mm (2.4 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 JulyCheju (Jeju) 5°C (41°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Cheju (Jeju) or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cheju (Jeju) and Cairns. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches.
In April, Cheju (Jeju) is generally much colder than Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Cheju (Jeju) average around 13°C (56°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In April, Cheju (Jeju) usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Cheju (Jeju) gets 97 mm (3.8 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 OctoberCheju (Jeju) 13°C (56°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Cheju (Jeju)
| Cheju (Jeju) | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 241 mm (9.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°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.