Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Tianjin?
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 Tianjin or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin 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: Tianjin or Cairns?
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Tianjin Prices
China PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $92Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $92, 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 Tianjin and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $35Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $70Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin 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.Tianjin $37Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Tianjin Airport ⇔ Tianjin City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service <Charter charter>: $13
- Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
- Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall: $196
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station: $80
- Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels : $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
- Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Binhai Railway Station: $32
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Port Douglas Cairns (RETURN TRIP) Private Transfer 1 to 6: $344
- Hot Air Balloon Flight with Transfers: $327
- Cairns to Mission Beach ONE WAY Private Transfer 6 pax: $289
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $269
- Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $258
- Cairns to Daintree Eco Lodge ONE WAY Private Transfer 6 pax: $255
- Outer Barrier Reef Full Day with transfers from Cairns: $244
- Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $234
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $188
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Port Douglas hotels: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Tianjin 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 dayTianjin $36Cairns $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 Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $67
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $67
- 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.Tianjin $10Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Private Tour to Uncover Tianjin’s Must-Visit Bucket-List Spots : $248
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
- All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- From Beijing: Tianjin Highlights Day Tour by High-Speed Rail: $289
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176
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
- 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
- Afternoon & Evening Tour of Paronella Park: $167
- 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 dayTianjin $11Cairns $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
- Cairns Brewery Tours: $148
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tianjin 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 Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Tianjin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Cairns?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin 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 Tianjin 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 Tianjin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Tianjin or Cairns in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tianjin and Cairns. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
In July, Tianjin is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 27°C (80°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tianjin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Tianjin gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTianjin 27°C (80°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tianjin as well as Cairns. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Tianjin is much colder than Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tianjin averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Tianjin usually gets less rain in October than Cairnsin April. Tianjin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to October in Cairns is the dry season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTianjin 15°C (58°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Tianjin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Tianjin. In the winter, Tianjin is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tianjin in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
In January, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Cairnsin July. Tianjin gets 3 mm (0.1 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 JulyTianjin -3°C (27°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Tianjin during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cairns for the beaches during these months.
In April, Tianjin is generally much colder than Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 14°C (58°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Tianjin usually gets less rain in April than Cairnsin October. Tianjin gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. April to October is the dry season in Cairns. November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTianjin 14°C (58°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Tianjin
| Tianjin | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.