Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zhangjiajie and Cairns. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Zhangjiajie or Cairns?
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
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 Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $63Cairns $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $63, 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 Zhangjiajie and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $30Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $60Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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.Zhangjiajie $14Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hot Air Balloon Flight with Transfers: $653
- Cairns to Mission Beach (ONE WAY) Private Transfer 1 to 6 pax: $277
- Cairns Airport(CNS) to Port Douglas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $268
- Mercedes-Benz S Class Transfers Cairns Airport - Port Douglas : $254
- Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $254
- Cairns Airport(CNS) to Cairns City - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $247
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Cairns city hotels: $241
- IMAX Private Transfer 7 Guests Cairns Airport to Hotels in Port Douglas : $225
- Cairns Airport Private Transfers: $184
- Cairns Airport to Luxury Transfers Port Douglas: $170
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Palm Cove hotels: $168
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Zhangjiajie 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 dayZhangjiajie $20Cairns $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
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: $85
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $91
- Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $117
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangjiajie $23Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Half-Day Self-Guided Fenghuang Night Tour from Zhangjiajie: $200
- (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
- 1 Day Dragon Sitting Gorge & Red Stone Forest Geo-park TOUR！: $272
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon(Glass Bridge) & Baofeng Lake Tour: $240
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- 2-Day “Best Of Zhangjiajie”-Avatar World & Tianmen Mountain Tour: $260
- 2-Day Zhangjiajie Happy Foodie&Sightseeing Tour: $300
- 2-Day Zhangjiajie Tour Including Yuanjiajie Mountains: $550
- 2-Full Days Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour : $284
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): $43
- 3B Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Crocodile Wildlife Cruise: $188
- Atherton Tablelands, Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns: $98
- Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour: $97
- Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tour Including Scenic River Cruise: $92
- Barron Gorge and Kuranda National Park Half Day Rainforest and Waterfall 4WD Tour from Cairns: $120
- Cairns 4WD Rainforest Waterfall Tour Including a GBR Island Tour: $242
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission & Coral Conservation Tour: $52
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $34
- Cairns Aquarium Turtle Hospital and City Sightseeing Tour: $116
- Cairns Aquarium and small group City Sightseeing Tour: $125
- Cairns Botanic Gardens: Mushroom Photography Tour: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $16Cairns $13
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: $139
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangjiajie Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangjiajie or Cairns?
Cairns has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Cairns in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Cairns. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Zhangjiajie is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zhangjiajie in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Cairns averages at about 29°C (84°F)in January.
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the summer. Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 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 JanuaryZhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Cairns. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Zhangjiajie is generally cooler than Cairnsin April. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 19°C (65°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in October than Cairnsin April. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 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 AprilZhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Zhangjiajie is much colder than Cairns in the winter. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in July.
In January, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Cairnsin July. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JulyZhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Zhangjiajie during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches.
In the spring, Zhangjiajie is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zhangjiajie in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie usually gets more rain in April than Cairnsin October. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 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 OctoberZhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Zhangjiajie
| Zhangjiajie | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.