Should you visit Rockhampton or Cairns?
Should I visit Rockhampton or Cairns? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in Queensland, Australia with a population of around 75,000. It dates back to 1855 and historically the economy was driven by gold, mining, and agriculture. Today it feels more bustling than you would expect in an "outback town." There's traffic, suburban sprawl, and continuing growth and development. The city sits on the Fitzroy River about 45 kilometers from the river's mouth.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Cairns or Rockhampton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Rockhampton is $148, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $82. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Rockhampton and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $176 in Rockhampton For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $74 in Cairns For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
Rockhampton's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $17 per person, per day on transportation in Rockhampton.
Cairns's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $10 per person, per day on transportation in Cairns.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Premium, private bus transfer. Cairns City - Cairns Airport.:
$135
-
Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns City - Cairns Airport:
$89
-
Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Trinity Beach:
$107
-
Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.:
$244
-
Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Palm Cove.:
$125
-
Port Douglas Transfers between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (Private Chauffeur):
$118
-
Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns City - Cairns Airport:
$62
-
Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport -Trinity Beach.:
$71
-
Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.:
$171
-
Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Palm Cove.:
$89
-
From Fitzroy Island Return Catamaran Transfer:
$60
-
Express Private Transfer from Cairns Airport to Cairns City:
$22
Is it cheaper to fly into Rockhampton or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Rockhampton 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
The average traveler spends about $43 per day in Rockhampton for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Food in Cairns costs travelers about $24 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Rockhampton $43
Cairns $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Guided Twilight Tour of the Aquarium with Dinner:
$90
-
Cairns Aquarium by Twilight with 3 Course Dinner:
$99
-
Afternoon Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise:
$134
-
Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise:
$154
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Rockhampton can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $35 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Cairns can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $32 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Rockhampton
For Rockhampton, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1 Day Rockhampton Highlights Private Tour with Pickup:
$178
-
Tropical Beach Adventure - Private 4X4 Day Tour with Pickup:
$178
Typical Entertainment prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
14-Day Cape York Camping Tour:
$2,350
-
2 Day Reef & Rainforest Adventure:
$619
-
2-Day Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest Tour from Cairns /Port Douglas:
$221
-
2-Day Green Island Cruise and Kuranda Day Trip:
$316
-
Aboriginal Cultural Daintree Rainforest Tour from Cairns or Port Douglas:
$210
-
Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls and Rainforest Day Tour Departing Cairns:
$95
-
Barron Gorge and Kuranda National Park Half Day Rainforest and Waterfall 4WD Tour from Cairns:
$124
-
Cairns 4WD Waterfall and Rainforest Tour Including Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail Rainforest Cableway:
$166
-
Cairns Adventure Package- 4 tours in 3 days!:
$325
-
Cairns Aquarium Admission Ticket:
$35
-
Cairns Aquarium Family Tickets:
$104
-
Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket:
$32
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Rockhampton spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Cairns spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
-
Tablelands Food & Wine Tour:
$233
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rockhampton and Cairns, we can see that Rockhampton is more expensive. And not only is Cairns much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cairns would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairns 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 Rockhampton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rockhampton than you might in Cairns.
Related Articles for Rockhampton
Related Articles for Cairns
