Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?
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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Cairns. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns?
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.
Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.
The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.
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 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Prices
China PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) $72Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is $72, 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) $25Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) $50Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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.Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $10Cairns $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain):
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Shuttle Bus to Tangkou for Two$3.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City and Beaches: $15
- Cairns Airport: Shared Transfer: $15
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
- Shuttle Bus Transfer - Kuranda to Cairns City: $20
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $25
- AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (6am-5pm): $40
- Cairns airport to cairns city private Transfers ( one way ): $40
- CNS Airport to Cairns City Centre Private Transfer: $47
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Cairns hotels to Cairns Airport(CNS) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Australian Armour & Artillery Museum with Transfers: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 dayHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) $33Cairns $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.Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $27Cairns $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$64
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Two Cable Car Passes$22
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 dayHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) $16Cairns $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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns in the Summer?
Both Cairns and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is around the same temperature as Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in January.
Cairns gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) 29°C (85°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Cairns. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairns in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. April to October in Cairns is the dry season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) 19°C (65°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Cairns. Additionally, most visitors come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally much colder than Cairnsin July. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 4°C (40°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 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 JulyHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) 4°C (40°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is much colder than Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In April, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Cairns is April to October. The rainy season in Cairns is November to March.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHuangshan (Yellow Mountain) 17°C (62°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
| Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.