Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Hefei?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Hefei or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hefei or Cairns? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Hefei or Cairns?
Hefei
While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Hefei Prices
China PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHefei $78Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Hefei is $78, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $116. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hefei and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHefei $29Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHefei $58Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Hefei and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Hefei or Cairns? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hefei $17Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (6am-5pm): $40
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $24
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Palm Cove - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $171
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
- Cairns Airport Transfers: $160
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer 1-7 Pax: $174
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Hefei or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Hefei change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHefei $36Cairns $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $65,930
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hefei $19Cairns $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $10
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $15
- Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $26
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
- Cairns Tomb Of The Pharaohs General Admission Ticket: $32
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $34
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $37
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHefei $11Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $168
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hefei and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Hefei much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hefei is in Asia and Cairns is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hefei would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hefei and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Cairns would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairns than you might in Hefei.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hefei Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hefei or Cairns?
Hefei has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Hefei and Cairns, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Hefei or Cairns?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Cairns is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Hefei has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Hefei or Cairns in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hefei as well as Cairns. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
In the summer, Hefei is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hefei in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Cairns averages at about 29°C (84°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Hefei receives a lot of rain in the summer. Hefei usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Hefei gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHefei 29°C (83°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Hefei are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Hefei is generally much colder than Cairnsin April. Daily temperatures in Hefei average around 18°C (64°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. In October, Hefei usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Hefei gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Cairns is April to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHefei 18°C (64°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Hefei during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairns in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hefei. Hefei is much colder than Cairns in the winter. The daily temperature in Hefei averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in July.
Hefei usually gets less rain in January than Cairnsin July. Hefei gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyHefei 3°C (38°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hefei and Cairns. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cairns for the beaches during these months.
In the spring, Hefei is much colder than Cairns. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hefei in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in October.
In April, Hefei usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Hefei gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. April to October in Cairns is the dry season. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHefei 16°C (61°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Hefei
| Hefei | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (78°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.