Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Hongcun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hongcun or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hongcun and Cairns can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Hongcun or Cairns?
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHongcun $52Cairns $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Hongcun is $52, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $94. 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 Hongcun and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHongcun $23Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHongcun $46Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Hongcun and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Hongcun 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.Hongcun $12Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cairns airport to cairns city private Transfers: $13
- Cairns Airport/City Transfers: $14
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City and Beaches: $14
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $14
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $20
- Private Transfer From Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns City Hotels: $21
- Private Transfer from Cairns City Hotels to Cairns Cruise Port: $21
- Cairns Airport luxury private transfer Airport to City Hotel: $32
- Shared Shuttle Transfer - Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $40
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns Cruise Port: $45
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns Airport (CNS): $45
- Shuttle Bus Shared Transfer Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Hongcun or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Hongcun 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 dayHongcun $19Cairns $28
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.83
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
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
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $156
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hongcun $17Cairns $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
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 Single Admission Ticket: $9.91
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $14
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $26
- Entry Ticket at Historic Village Herberton: $28
- Cairns History Walking Tour: $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
- Cairns Botanic Gardens: Mushroom Photography Tour: $44
- Full Day Tour by Myroo X Deluxe Coach to Mission Beach: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHongcun $14Cairns $13
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 Hongcun and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hongcun 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 Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Hongcun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hongcun Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hongcun 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 Hongcun has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Hongcun or Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Hongcun during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Hongcun is around the same temperature as Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in January.
Cairns gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. Hongcun usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHongcun 29°C (85°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Cairns. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Hongcun is cooler than Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hongcun in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hongcun usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. April to October in Cairns is the dry season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHongcun 19°C (65°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Cairns. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Cairns because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Hongcun can be very cold during winter. In January, Hongcun is generally much colder than Cairnsin July. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 4°C (40°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Hongcun usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 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 JulyHongcun 4°C (40°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
Hongcun is much colder than Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Hongcun. In April, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Cairns is April to October. The rainy season in Cairns is November to March.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHongcun 17°C (62°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Hongcun
| Hongcun | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.