Cairns is a melting pot of cultures with people from all over Australia and the world, making it a place to call home. In fact, it’s almost a rarity to find a true Cairns born and bred local. Locals are, in the main, relaxed and friendly, and because many have been in your shoes, they will go out of their way to help you settle into your new neighbourhood.
You’ll often hear people say that Cairns is a “transient city” with people coming and going frequently. Due to this, you may also find the longer you spend in Cairns, the easier it is to meet like-minded people, but that could be said about anywhere you move to.

Like all places, the Cairns region has a variable crime rate. The number of offences reported in Cairns in the 12-month period from 7 November 2021 until 6 November 2022 was just over 25,000, with theft the most commonly-reported offence, according to the Queensland Police Service online crime map.

The overall count and rate of total offences in Cairns per 100,000 people fell  by 11 per cent between the 2019-2020 financial year and the 2020-2021 financial year, according to the Queensland Government Statistician's Office, listed in the Crime report, Queensland 2020-21.

As with all cities, there are areas where there are spikes in crime, and others which have very low recorded incidents.

Most people who live in Cairns report feeling safe where they live. The Council ran a survey in 2020, called 'Our Cairns', which asked many general questions of residents, including whether or not they felt safe in their suburb and if they had been a victim of crime. The survey was completed by more than 8000 residents;  94% of Cairns people reported feeling safe in their suburb, either all the time (46%), during the daytime (30%), or sometimes (16%).

When asked if they had been a victim of crime, 71% of Cairns people reported they had not been a victim of crime in the past five years. Of the people who reported that they had been a victim of crime (29% of the survey respondents), more than half of this group had experienced theft or break-in.

Cairns is truly unique. Not only is it the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, but it also enables locals to have a healthy work-life balance without the draw backs other major cities struggle with.  Commutes to and from work are generally much shorter, so much so that you will hear locals complain if their journey takes longer than 30 minutes.
Whilst Cairns’ neighbouring city, Townsville is just a four-hour drive away, there is a stark contrast in their ecosystems. The lush green flora and fauna found in Tropical North Queensland provides a feast for the eyes all year round.
With an estimated resident population of just over 169,000 people (economy id), Cairns is a relatively small city. On one hand it’s small enough that you will quickly settle in and get to know your fellow locals, but it is also big enough to have all the modern amenities you expect in a major city too.

Cairns is a wonderful place to call home. Many families who move to Cairns do so because it’s an excellent part of the country to raise children. With crystal clear waters, creeks, waterfalls, and a rainforest backdrop, Cairns is luscious green all year around. Whilst some people find the summer months (or ‘wet season’ as it’s known to locals to locals) hot and humid, the warm rain provides much needed relief and still enables you to get out and about during the wetter months. You will soon adapt though and what felt hot when you first arrived, will quickly become the norm.

According to a recent survey by Cairns Regional Council of more than 8000 residents, most people rate eating out at great restaurants and cafes, hiking, walking and spending time in nature and parks as the activities that enhance their Cairns life the most. Many residents also enjoyed visiting the reef, going to local markets and attending arts, cultural and sporting events.

Generally, Cairns locals are sociable with a strong community spirit. This combined with an increasing list of fun, often free activities, makes it easier for people moving to the area settle in and become accustomed to a more balanced way to live.

Like all cities, some living expenses are lower and others are higher.
Housing is, comparatively speaking, more affordable to buy in Cairns than in major cities, however items such as fuel, electricity and insurance are typically higher than other major cities in Australia.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Quickstats census figures from 2021 show median weekly rent payments in Cairns ($310) were slightly lower than the Queensland ($365)and Australian averages ($375). Monthly media mortgage repyaments were also lower in Cairns ($1517) when compared with Queensland as a whole ($1733) and Australia ($1863).

Median weekly income for a household in Cairns ($1445), however, is lower than Queensland ($1675) and Australian ($1746) averages.

You will find many of the popular retailers and convenience stores here in Cairns, meaning fashion, food and entertainment costs are pretty similar to the rest of the country.  Private schooling and daycare fees are generally lower than the capital cities. Whilst the average salary in Cairns is also lower than what you will find in the bigger cities, it all balances out.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Quickstats census figures from 2021 stated that 18.3% of employed persons in Cairns were classified as Professionals, with Technicians and Trades Workers second with 14.7% and Community and Personal Service Workers third with 14.3%. Laborours account for 12.1 per cent of the Cairns workforce and managers for 12 per cent.

Cairns has two seasons, the wet and dry seasons. The wet season which runs from October to May is typically when humidity is at its highest. Depending on where you are moving from, it may take a few wet seasons to become accustomed to the heat during this period, but many find the humidity much easier to cope with than the dry heat found in other areas of Australia.

With creeks, a man-made lagoon and many beaches using stinger nets, there are plenty of opportunities to cool off outdoors. Most indoor places are air-conditioned which helps you keep your cool if the heat becomes unbearable. Shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, cafes and bars are all really good options to drop the mercury by a few degrees.

During the dry season (June to September), Cairns is paradise, with temperatures typically in the high 20s during the day, and rarely falling below 15 degrees at night.