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Where to live in Cairns

Where should I live in Cairns?

Each area of Cairns has its own unique character, charm, and special features. The beauty of living in Far North Queensland is that we offer all the amenities of a city, combined with the ease of movement and strong community connections found in a village. Discover more about house prices, local highlights, what residents love, and which Cairns lifestyle suits you best. Or, if you're ready, start your search for a new home in Cairns today.

You can also skip ahead to our frequently asked questions about finding a home in Cairns, our most in-demand suburbs, family-friendly areas, and tips for renting or buying in Cairns.

Cairns Beach Living
Cairns Beach Living

Considering living by the beach in Cairns? Cairns has eight northern beaches suburbs that are primarily residential areas.
Inner suburban
Inner suburban

In the Cairns inner suburbs and city fringe, you can find all sorts of housing from a big house with a big backyard or a low-maintenance studio apartment overlooking the water. Many suburbs are a short 5 to 10 minute commute to the city.
Semi-rural
Semi-rural

Cairns is a city with many options to enjoy a country lifestyle with a tropical edge. Live a rural life in Gordonvale or the beautiful Goldsborough Valley, less than 30 minutes drive from the Cairns CBD and beaches.
City living
City living

Close to restaurants, nightclubs, arts venues, the Esplanade and cafes, Cairns city living is particularly popular with students, 20-somethings and older people.
South of the city
South of the city

Easy access to the CBD via the Bruce Highway, the south side of Cairns is home to a wide range of education facilities, sporting fields, parks and shopping centres.
A tree change in Cairns
A tree change in Cairns

Make a treechange in Cairns. Our rainforest suburbs west of Cairns city, including Redlynch Valley, are very popular with families.

Frequently asked questions about finding a place to live in Cairns

Find out whether renting or buying in Cairns is the best option for you, explore suburbs that align with your lifestyle, and research crime and safety in the areas you're considering.

The suburbs of Redlynch Valley and Kanimbla have the highest proportion of ‘couples with children’ at 45% and 42% respectively. There are another four suburbs in Cairns where more than a third of the population is made up of families:

  • Brinsmead
  • Bentley Park
  • Mount Sheridan
  • Trinity Park

The Cairns inner city and surrounds are the areas where most people are living alone or share-housing. These suburbs also have more apartments, townhouses and low maintenance living options than the suburbs and include:

  • Bungalow
  • Cairns City
  • Cairns North
  • Parramatta Park
  • Westcourt

Cairns is a multicultural city. Around one fifth of our residents born overseas. And approximately 9 per cent of Cairns residents identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Our most multicultural suburbs, where more than a fifth of residents speak a language other than English at home, include:

  • Cairns North
  • Kanimbla
  • Manunda
  • Mooroobool
  • Parramatta Park
  • Westcourt

Naturally, when you consider moving to a new town or city, one of the first decisions you need to make is whether you are going to buy or rent.

The property rental market in Cairns is extremely tight, with a vacancy rate of just 1.2% in December 2024 (source: SQM Research).

Compare this to the North Queensland average of 0.8% and you will quickly see that you need to have a plan to find a great rental.

With more people moving to the region, buying a property has also become very competitive.

The new residential building approvals in Cairns is 674 in 2023-24 (source .id).

Whichever option suits your requirements, do not be deterred, because there are still great options for both tenants and buyers.

Heading north of Cairns, to the suburbs of Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach and Palm Cove could just be your ticket to paradise. Not only do these suburbs offer idyllic beach living, but unlike Cairns City, they provide more chance of finding a rental.

The Northern Beaches, as they are collective known, have a vacancy rate of 1.6%.

If you are aiming to live south of the city, be prepared for some stiff competition as suburbs such as Mount Sheridan, Edmonton and Gordonvale have vacancy rates as low as 0.6% (Source: SQM Research).

According to RealEstate.com.au (January 2025) the average weekly rent can vary depending on the suburb of your choice:

  • Cairns North - $610 per week (House) / $450 per week (Unit)
  • Clifton Beach - $680 per week (House) / $480 per week (Unit)
  • Edmonton - $580 per week (House) / $420 per week (Unit)
  • Manoora - $510 per week (House) / $377 per week (Unit)
  • Palm Cove - $800 per week (House) / $550 per week (Unit)
  • Redlynch - $720 per week (House) / $465 per week (Unit)

Like much of the Australian real estate market, buying a house or unit in Cairns requires buyers to act quickly. With an increasing number of viewings per property listing and a shrinking time on the market, it’s currently a seller’s market. However, new housing developments in areas like Gordonvale and Clifton Beach are adding some capacity to the market.

As with the rental market, the average house and unit prices in and around Cairns (based on January 2025 figures) vary:

  • Cairns North - $660k (House) / $345k (Unit)
  • Clifton Beach - $865k (House) / $400k (Unit)
  • Edmonton - $558k (House) / $245k (Unit)
  • Manoora - $485k (House) / $304k (Unit)
  • Palm Cove - $945k (House) / $613k (Unit)
  • Redlynch - $730k (House) / $411k (Unit)