Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Cairns, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Pyeongchang or Cairns?
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
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 Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Pyeongchang Prices
South Korea PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPyeongchang $133Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Pyeongchang is $133, 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 Pyeongchang and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPyeongchang $61Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPyeongchang $122Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Pyeongchang and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Pyeongchang 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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices and Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pyeongchang $24Cairns $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 transfer between Cairns City Hotel and Airport: $20
- Private Transfers Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $206
- 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): $86
- Private Transfer from Cairns City Hotels to Cairns Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas Port: $160
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns Cruise Port: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Pyeongchang or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Pyeongchang 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 dayPyeongchang $47Cairns $49
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.Pyeongchang $50Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang
For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Alpensia 2D1N Ski Lift Tour: $141
- Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $78
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 Great Barrier Reef Cruise w optional Scuba Diving : $178
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPyeongchang $8.69Cairns $13
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 comparing the travel costs between Pyeongchang and Cairns, we can see that Pyeongchang 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. Even though Pyeongchang is in Asia and Cairns is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Pyeongchang is generally cooler than Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 24°C (76°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 Pyeongchang. In July, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 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 JanuaryPyeongchang 24°C (76°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Pyeongchang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Cairns because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Pyeongchang is much colder than Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 15°C (60°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 Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in October than Cairnsin April. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 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 AprilPyeongchang 15°C (60°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Cairns. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. In the winter, Pyeongchang is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pyeongchang in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
In January, Pyeongchang usually receives more rain than Cairnsin July. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 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 JulyPyeongchang 0°C (33°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Cairns. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches.
In April, Pyeongchang is generally much colder than Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 12°C (54°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in April than Cairnsin October. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 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 OctoberPyeongchang 12°C (54°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Pyeongchang
| Pyeongchang | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 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.