Regional cities are becoming increasingly popular choices for people seeking to move away from the Australian capital cities. With remote working a real possibility in many organisations, it is now easier than ever to leave the major cities behind for a sea change, a better work-life balance and more affordable housing.
Cairns is one of Australia’s busiest regional cities, popular with tourists from all over the world. More and more people are now choosing to call Cairns home.
If you are considering relocating to Cairns, here are some key highlights to help you move successfully to Far North Queensland.
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Cairns is far more than a holiday location
With Cairns Airport being one of the busiest airports in the country, you would be forgiven for thinking that the city is built purely on tourism. Whilst the industry does contribute a considerable amount to the local economy, scratch beneath the surface and you will find there is much more going on.
Blessed with fertile grounds and plenty of rain, agriculture is big business, contributing $2.4bn to the Cairns economy each year. With two World Heritage sites on the city’s doorstep, Marine Sciences and Tropical Health also play a pivotal role internationally with many of the world’s leading researchers making ground-breaking discoveries here.
With two leading universities and a TAFE Queensland campus, Cairns has become a popular choice for those seeking further/higher education both nationally and internationally.
Finding work in Cairns
Cairns is home to 14,000 organisations, ranging from sole traders, small and medium businesses, and NGOs, providing many opportunities not only for employment, but for those seeking to start their own business. Remote working is also enabling professionals from all over Australia to move to Cairns whilst supporting national and in some cases, international businesses.
Professionals within healthcare, medical, education and construction are highly sought after, however there are many career opportunities within hospitality and tourism, professional scientific and technical services, and manufacturing.
With a population a little over 150,000, Cairns is a city where connections are easily made which can be very helpful in securing that next career move. The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is the largest regional chamber in the country, with monthly networking and training events, making it a good platform to start building your local network.
If you are beginning to search for career options, we’ve put some tips together on finding a job in Cairns.
Finding a home in Cairns
With a wide variety of lifestyle options in and around Cairns, from beach front living and quiet leafy suburbs, through to bustling CBD apartments and city fringe locations, there really is something for everyone.
For those transitioning from major cities, the average house price in the Cairns region will often be lower than what you have been accustomed to, however there is something to suit a variety of budgets and ‘must-have’ features.
Family friendly suburbs such as Freshwater, Redlynch and Smithfield north of the city, and Gordonvale, Edmonton and Mount Sheridan to the south, all have a high proportion of couples with children, combined with access to public and private school options close by.
If being near to the beach is a key requirement, there are eight popular suburbs, with Hollyways Beach, Machans Beach and Yorkeys Know relatively close to the city and Palm Cove, a little further along, a pricier beach location with a resort feel.
It can be tricky to find the right place in a new city so we've put together some advice about renting, buying, finding and furnishing a home in Cairns, and figuring out where to live in Cairns with an an overview of six lifestyle options.
Cost of living
If your benchmark for the cost of living is a capital city, Cairns is likely to be more affordable especially in terms of house prices, childcare and private school fees. However, it is important to factor in that wages may not be what you expect to receive in major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, especially outside of healthcare and education.
That being said, when you compare Cairns to other regional locations such as the Sunshine Coast, Perth or Newcastle, your money will go further here in Far North Queensland.
Even with the wage difference taken into account, the portion of your income required to service a mortgage is 26% for the south of the city and 27.4% for the north, which is significantly less than the 41.5% needed on the Sunshine Coast, or 40.2% for the Gold Coast (source: ANZ Housing Affordability).
If you are trying to balance the books, read why we think Cairns is more affordable.
Education options in Cairns
Cairns is home to two leading universities, James Cook University (JCU) and Central Queensland University (CQU), as well as TAFE Queensland, ensuring whatever your vocation, your talents will be nurtured.
With 56 schools across the region, the city also has a balanced combination of state and private schooling, including Catholic, Christian, Anglican, and Lutheran faiths.
When researching where to live when you move to Cairns, you may wish to consider which schools meet the needs of your family.
The Cairns region has 25 state primary, high schools and colleges that operate under a catchment management plan however, you can still apply to enrol in a state school in a different area.
More information about the catchment areas can be found here.
We’ve also put together a helpful overview of options for Cairns Schools and Childcare facilities.
State vs Private – how to choose what’s right for you
Making the choice between a state and private school really depends on your personal circumstances and what options are available to you close to your newfound home. For those who have sent their children to private schools in other cities, Cairns’ private school fees are very competitive, with the approximate cost of Catholic primary school education roughly $39.60 per academic week, rising to $67.93 for secondary.
If you put stock in web-based best-school 'listings', like 'my choice' and 'Better Education, you will find that many Cairns state and private schools are 'well-rated' or 'highly-rated', based on parent and student reviews and academic curriculum and results.
Getting around
Most locals get around Cairns using their own vehicles or the local bus service. Buses run daily across the region, servicing the main suburbs from the Northern Beaches to the various shopping centres. For more information on the city’s public bus service and ticket pricing, please visit Sunbus. There are also a growing number of cycle and footpaths, helping to connect communities and promote outdoor activities such as cycling and running.
Note that buying a car in Cairns can cost more and also, transportation of vehicles up to Far North Queensland can take some time. As with all locations, there are advantages and disadvantages to living in more remote parts of the country.
Cairns has a range of taxi and ride share services, that offer easy and affordable door to door services throughout the region.
For those weekend retreats, boat services can quickly transport you to one of the many scenic islands and world-renowned reefs.
There is a train service that runs between Cairns CBD and Kuranda, stopping at Freshwater however, this is more of a tourist attraction rather than a commuter option. The Spirit of Queensland also connects Cairns with Brisbane.
Finally, Cairns Airport is Australia’s seventh busiest airport, with regular domestic services to all major cities and a growing list of regional locations such as the Sunshine Coast and Newcastle. International direct flights to Japan, Singapore, Bali, and Papua New Guinea are also available (COVID restrictions pending).
If you’re beginning to plan how you will get around when you move to Cairns, check out our guide to connected Cairns.
Making new friends in Cairns
One of the most challenging elements of moving anywhere new is finding like-minded people to socialise with.
Typically, building a new social circle takes time, but there are ways to shortcut this process to help you become more settled into the Cairns life. If you haven’t already, identify your top three to five hobbies. Chances are there is a club, class or meet up that’s already up and running that you can join, allowing you to focus on your hobbies and build up your social network at the same time.
Many suburbs have their own community groups on Facebook, so finding and joining them is an important way to find out what’s happening in your area. Quite often, residents will have their own events or meet ups that will help you make new friends and learn more about your new surroundings.
Another option for you to consider is to volunteer your time to a group, issue or charity you are passionate about. Not only will this help you meet likeminded people, but you also be able to contribute to the local community or provide support for an initiative you care about.
There are plenty of volunteer groups such as amateur theatres or events where you can assist like the annual Iron Man competition.
If you’re in business, there are networking groups such as the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, the Cairns Business Women’s Club, Rotary, Toastmasters and several BNI chapters. Not only will these help you establish yourself and your business commercially, you’ll also make some really good friends.