Cairns vs Darwin
Cost of living, weather, jobs and lifestyle, side by side. Pick any two cities to switch.
| Fact | Cairns | Darwin |
|---|---|---|
| Population1 | 254,000 | 140,000 |
| State | Queensland | Northern Territory |
| House figure (see scope and measure) | $775k ↗ | $752k ↗ |
| Median weekly rent (house)2 | $580 | $799 |
| Average summer day3 | 31°C | 32°C |
| Average winter day3 | 26°C | 31°C |
| Annual rainfall3 | 2000 mm | 1700 mm |
| Time zone4 | AEST (UTC+10) | ACST (UTC+9.5) |
| Main industries5 | Tourism, health, aviation, agriculture | Defence, government, tourism, gas |
Cairns is 0.5 hours ahead of Darwin in winter. Figures are rounded and are a guide only. Capital-city house medians describe each city's overall market, not equivalent homes at the same distance from the centre. Regional figures may use different periods, geographies and methods; do not treat the difference as a matched-property price gap.
- Cairns: Median house sale price, Cairns, December 2025. The Buyers Co., Cairns market update (Cairns Chamber data).
- Darwin: Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only), Darwin capital-city market (Domain), September quarter 2026. Domain, September 2026 House Price Report.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional population
- Domain House Price and Rent Reports (indicative rent only)
- Bureau of Meteorology, climate statistics
- Geoscience Australia, time zones
- ABS Census 2021, industry of employment
Checked against the source article:
- Cairns population: 2021 Cairns, Census All persons QuickStats (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Darwin median weekly rent: Housing - Northern Territory Economy (checked 20 Oct 2026)
- Darwin population: 2021 Darwin, Census All persons QuickStats (checked 26 Oct 2026)
What it's really like: Cairns and Darwin beyond the numbers
What each city is known for
Cairns. The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, the Esplanade Lagoon, and Kuranda.
Darwin. Mindil Beach sunset markets, crocodiles, World War II history, and access to Kakadu and Litchfield national parks. It is the closest Australian capital to Asia.
Getting around
Cairns. Sunbus services run locally, but driving is the norm. The international airport links to Asia.
Darwin. A bus network only, and driving is the norm. There are no toll roads, and the city is small enough to cross in about 20 minutes.
Sport
Cairns. Rugby league, fishing and diving, plus the Cairns Ironman.
Darwin. AFL is popular, and NT Thunder plays in the state league. Darwin also hosts NRL and AFL fixtures, the Darwin Triple Crown Supercars and fishing competitions.
Day-to-day life
Cairns. A tropical, tourism-driven city with a wet season from roughly December to April. Housing is cheaper than in the south-east.
Darwin. Tropical: a humid wet season (November to April) with storms and the risk of cyclones, then a dry season of clear warm days. The population is young and transient, with many defence families.
Sources: Translink Queensland · Tourism Tropical North Queensland · NT Government public transport · Tourism NT