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.
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
The property rental market in Cairns is extremely tight, with a vacancy rate of just 1.2% in December 2024 (source: SQM Research), and North Queensland's vacancy rate sits around 0.8%. Those coming to the Far North are definitely encouraged to source medium to long term accommodation before arriving.
With more people moving to the region, buying a property has also become very competitive and prices have rised as with much of Australia.
Heading north of Cairns, suburbs including Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach or Palm Cove give more of a typical Queensland way of life, and often provide more tenant vacancies, with a vacancy rate of 1.6%.
However, south of the city, suburbs such as Mount Sheridan, Edmonton and Gordonvale have vacancy rates as low as 0.6% (Source: SQM Research).
Like in much of Australia, buying a property in Cairns requires buyers to act quickly, with an increasing number of viewings per property listing and less time on the market.
However, new housing developments and Priority Development Areas have been identified in Mount Peter, Gordonvale, and Clifton Beach, adding some capacity to the market.