A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Shijiazhuang vs. Cairns for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang 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: Shijiazhuang or Cairns?

Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang is the capital city of Hebei Province in China. It is a fairly young city, acting as the regional transport hub and economic center, though there are a few sights worth seeing. The city is also the largest pharmaceutical hub in China, as well as an important center for textile, IT, manufacturing, and chemical industries.

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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Shijiazhuang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Shijiazhuang is $91, 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 Shijiazhuang and Cairns in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Shijiazhuang $44
    Cairns $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Shijiazhuang $88
    Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Shijiazhuang and Cairns

Looking for a hotel in Shijiazhuang 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.

Hotels in Shijiazhuang


Hotels in Cairns


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Shijiazhuang $27
    Cairns $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns

Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (6am-5pm): $40
  • Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
  • Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $24
  • Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
  • Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
  • Cairns Airport (CNS) to Palm Cove - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $171
  • Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $189
  • Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
  • Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
  • Cairns Airport Transfers: $160
  • Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer 1-7 Pax: $174
  • Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $267

Is it cheaper to fly into Shijiazhuang or Cairns?

Prices for flights to both Cairns and Shijiazhuang 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Shijiazhuang $32
    Cairns $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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Shijiazhuang $4.41
    Cairns $37

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • 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 Admission Ticket: $10
  • Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $10
  • Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
  • Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $15
  • Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
  • Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $26
  • Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
  • Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
  • Cairns Tomb Of The Pharaohs General Admission Ticket: $32
  • Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $34
  • Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $37
  • Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Shijiazhuang $5.21
    Cairns $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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shijiazhuang and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Shijiazhuang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shijiazhuang Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Shijiazhuang or Cairns?

Shijiazhuang has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Cairns in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Shijiazhuang as well as Cairns. Additionally, many visitors come to Cairns in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Shijiazhuang is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shijiazhuang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Cairns averages at about 29°C (84°F)in January.

It's quite rainy in Cairns. Shijiazhuang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shijiazhuang usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Shijiazhuang gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Shijiazhuang 27°C (81°F) 
    Cairns 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Cairns in the Autumn?

Both Cairns and Shijiazhuang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Shijiazhuang is generally much colder than Cairnsin April. Daily temperatures in Shijiazhuang average around 15°C (59°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. In October, Shijiazhuang usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Shijiazhuang gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Cairns is April to October.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Shijiazhuang 15°C (59°F) 
    Cairns 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Cairns in the Winter?

Both Cairns and Shijiazhuang during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Cairns because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Shijiazhuang can be very cold during winter. Shijiazhuang is much colder than Cairns in the winter. The daily temperature in Shijiazhuang averages around -2°C (29°F) in January, and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in July.

Shijiazhuang usually gets less rain in January than Cairnsin July. Shijiazhuang gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Shijiazhuang -2°C (29°F) 
    Cairns 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Shijiazhuang or Cairns in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shijiazhuang and Cairns. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.

In the spring, Shijiazhuang is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shijiazhuang in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in October.

In April, Shijiazhuang usually receives less rain than Cairnsin October. Shijiazhuang gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. April to October in Cairns is the dry season. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Shijiazhuang 15°C (60°F) 
    Cairns 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Cairns and Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang Cairns
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 29°C (84°F) 429 mm (16.9 in)
Feb 1°C (33°F) 9 mm (0.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 469 mm (18.5 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 471 mm (18.5 in)
Apr 15°C (60°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 273 mm (10.8 in)
May 21°C (71°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 25°C (78°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (74°F) 62 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Aug 26°C (79°F) 156 mm (6.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Oct 15°C (59°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Dec 1°C (33°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 29°C (83°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)