Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Newcastle?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Newcastle vs. Cairns for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Newcastle or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Newcastle 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: Newcastle or Cairns?
Newcastle
Newcastle is 150 kilometers north of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the second largest city in the state, and serves as a central point to explore the area's beaches, wineries, and beautiful natural landscape. North of the city is Stockton beach, which has many miles of isolated, beautiful beaches, stretching all the way up to Nelson Bay. The wineries are inland to the west and have some of Australia's finest wine which you can taste. If you want to see rainforests, you can head northwest to Barrington Tops National Park, which has great rainforests and freshwater streams. You may even get to see a platypus. The city also has the country's oldest sea port. In the past the city's economy was centered around the steel industry, but today the University of Newcastle is one of the area's most important employers.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNewcastle $90Cairns $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Newcastle is $90, 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 Newcastle and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNewcastle $44Cairns $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNewcastle $88Cairns $84
Compare Hotels in Newcastle and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Newcastle 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: Newcastle Hotel Prices and Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Newcastle $8.27Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Newcastle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Newcastle:
- Private Transfer from Newcastle Port to Newcastle city hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Newcastle Port to Newcastle Airport (NTL): $29
- Private Transfer from Newcastle Cruise Port to Sydney City Hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Newcastle City Hotels to Newcastle Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Newcastle Airport (NTL) to Newcastle Port: $29
- Private Transfer - Newcastle Cruise Port to Sydney Airport (SYD): $87
- Private Round-Trip Transfer to Pokolbin from Port Stephens: $389
- Tandem Beach Skydive with Optional Transfers: $269
- Newcastle to Newcastle Airport (NTL) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Newcastle Airport (NTL) to Newcastle - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City and Beaches: $12
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $13
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $19
- Private Transfer From Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns City Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer from Cairns City Hotels to Cairns Cruise Port: $20
- AIRPORT TRANSFER to/from Cairns Airport and Port Douglas (oneway): $29
- AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport and Port Douglas (oneway): $29
- Shared Arrival Transfer From Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $31
- Cairns Airport luxury private transfer Airport to City Hotel: $31
- Shared Airport Transfer to Port Douglas: $33
- Airport Transfer Cairns-Palm Cove or Palm Cove-Cairns: $36
- Private Luxury Transfer Cairns Airport to City: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Newcastle or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Newcastle 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 dayNewcastle $35Cairns $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Newcastle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Newcastle.
- Looking for a fun experience, hit the sweet spot with beer and pizza at Slice! : $60
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: $77
- Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $115
- Cairns Aquarium by Twilight Tour and 3-Course Dinner: $116
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $138
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Newcastle $15Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Newcastle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Newcastle are as follows:
- 3- Hour Wine and Harvest the Hunter Horse Tour in Pokolbin: $90
- 3-Hour Hunter Valley Scenic Helicopter Tour Including 3-Course Lunch from Cessnock: $251
- Architecture, Street Art & Hidden Secrets Walking Tour of Newcastle: $33
- Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard - Sweet Indulgence Experience: $36
- Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard: Fromage and Fortified Wine Experience: $46
- Award Winning Full Day Wine and Food Experience: $137
- Eat And Drink Newcastle History Walking Tour: $59
- Family Pass: Fighter World Museum Admission Ticket: $28
- From Hunter Valley Beer & Wine Small Group Tour: $145
- Helicopter Tour of Hunter Valley in New South Wales with Lunch: $277
- Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle: $81
- Hunter Coastal Adventure Tour by Boat from Newcastle: $81
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$35
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: $9.76
- Birdworld Kuranda Entry Ticket: $14
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $14
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $20
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $24
- Entry Ticket at Historic Village Herberton: $25
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $26
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $28
- Cairns History Walking Tour: $28
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures General Entry Ticket: $29
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $33
- Cairns Aquarium Admission Ticket: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNewcastle $10Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Newcastle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Newcastle:
- Boutique Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $6.51
- Ivanhoe Wines: Trip Advisor Seated Wine Tasting Masterclass: $9.76
- Tulloch Wines - Wine Tasting paired with Local Handmade Chocolates: $20
- 30-Minute Distillery Guided Tour in Carrington : $23
- Tintilla Estate: Wine Tasting with a Meat and Cheese Platter: $23
- Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $25
- Tulloch Wines- Mystery Wine Tasting Experience with Local Cheese and Charcuterie: $33
- Tulloch Wines Hunter Heroes Wine Tasting with Local Cheese & Charcuterie Board: $33
- Premium Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $49
- Snapshot Half Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour: $62
- Hunter Valley Wine Tour from the Hunter with Wine Craft Beer Cheese Chocolate: $100
- Hunter Valley Small Group Luxury Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $127
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: $127
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $151
- Boutique Atherton Tablelands Small-Group Food and Wine Tasting Tour from Cairns: $159
- Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour from Cairns: $257
When comparing the travel costs between Newcastle and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Newcastle or Cairns?
Newcastle is bigger, and its population is about 3.2 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the population of Newcastle vs. 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Newcastle or Cairns?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Newcastle or Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Newcastle during the summer are popular places to visit.
Newcastle is cooler than Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Newcastle averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
Cairns gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Newcastle. Newcastle usually gets less rain in January than Cairns. Newcastle gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryNewcastle 22°C (72°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Newcastle or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Newcastle and Cairns.
In the autumn, Newcastle is cooler than Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Newcastle in April average around 19°C (67°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F).
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Newcastle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Newcastle usually receives less rain than Cairns. Newcastle gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilNewcastle 19°C (67°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Newcastle or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Newcastle as well as Cairns.
In July, Newcastle is generally much colder than Cairns. Daily temperatures in Newcastle average around 13°C (55°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Newcastle usually gets more rain in July than Cairns. Newcastle gets 61 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 JulyNewcastle 13°C (55°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Newcastle or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Newcastle are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Newcastle is cooler than Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Newcastle averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In October, Newcastle usually receives more rain than Cairns. Newcastle gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberNewcastle 18°C (64°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Newcastle
| Newcastle | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (71°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (67°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
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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.
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