Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Chumphon?
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 Chumphon or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chumphon or Cairns? 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: Chumphon or Cairns?
Chumphon
Sometimes tourism has a tendency to spoil the natural beauty of a place. This is not the case in the magical city of Chumphon, Thailand. As the gateway to the Chumphon Archipelago, this city has maintained natural, untouched beauty. Its miles of coastline are full of fine beaches with fishing, swimming and a number of other activities.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Chumphon Prices
Thailand PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChumphon $51Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Chumphon is $51, 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 Chumphon and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChumphon $18Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChumphon $36Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Chumphon and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Chumphon 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: Chumphon Hotel Prices and Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chumphon $7.28Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Bus Transfer - Kuranda to Cairns City: $20
- Shared Transfer Between Cairns and Port Douglas: $87
- Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Palm Cove: $96
- Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Cairns City: $69
- Private Transfer from Cairns hotels to Port Douglas Cruise Port: $161
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Port Douglas hotels: $180
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns Airport (CNS): $87
- Private Transfer from Cairns City Hotels to Cairns Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas Port: $161
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer From Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns City Hotels: $72
- Private Transfer - Cairns Airport to/from Cairns CBD : $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Chumphon or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Chumphon 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 dayChumphon $25Cairns $49
Typical Food Prices in Chumphon
For Chumphon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Ice Cream$0.19
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Fruit at the Market$0.63
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Breakfast$1.26
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.Chumphon $12Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Chumphon
For Chumphon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jet Ski Adventure with Island Trip Option: $93
- Unique Yoga Private Class Experience in Chumphon: $87
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:
- Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $47
- 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $134
- 2 Days Tour on Atherton Tablelands and Cape Tribbin: $288
- 2-Day Daintree & Outback Tour from Cairns & Port Douglas: $261
- 2-Day Paronella Park & Tablelands Tour+Cape Tribulation Tour: $324
- 2-Day Waterfall and Daintree Tour: $191
- 30 min Jetski Tour Cairns: $74
- All Inclusive Day Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef: $168
- All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns : $120
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour: $112
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChumphon $13Cairns $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chumphon
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chumphon are as follows:
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Beer (2)$4.40
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 Chumphon and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Chumphon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chumphon 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 Chumphon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chumphon 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 Chumphon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chumphon Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chumphon or Cairns?
Cairns has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chumphon. When comparing the sizes of Chumphon 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 Chumphon or Cairns?
Cairns has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chumphon experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Chumphon or Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Chumphon are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chumphon throughout the year. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
In July, Chumphon is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Chumphon average around 28°C (82°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. It's quite rainy in Chumphon. In July, Chumphon usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Chumphon gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Cairns is November to March.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryChumphon 28°C (82°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Chumphon or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Chumphon during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chumphon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Chumphon is around the same temperature as Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chumphon averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
Cairns gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Chumphon. Chumphon usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Cairnsin April. Chumphon gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain this time of the year. April to October is the dry season in Cairns.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilChumphon 27°C (81°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Chumphon or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chumphon and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chumphon year-round. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Chumphon is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chumphon in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
In January, Chumphon usually receives more rain than Cairnsin July. Chumphon gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyChumphon 25°C (77°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Chumphon or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Chumphon as well as Cairns. Chumphon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the beaches during these months.
In April, Chumphon is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Chumphon average around 29°C (84°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Chumphon usually gets more rain in April than Cairnsin October. Chumphon gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to October in Cairns is the dry season. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberChumphon 29°C (84°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Chumphon
| Chumphon | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.