Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Cairns can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Surat Thani or Cairns?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
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 Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Surat Thani Prices
Thailand PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $71Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $71, 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 Surat Thani and Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $27Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $54Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani 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.Surat Thani $27Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $78
- Surat Thani Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khao Sok: $90
- Surat Thani Airport to/From Ratchaprapa Dam Private Transfer: $81
- Samui Airport Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $39
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport to The Ritz Carlton Koh Samui: $22
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Koh Samui: Zipline Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
- From URT Airport: Shared Transfer to Koh Samui/Koh Phangan: $3.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Port Douglas Cairns (RETURN TRIP) Private Transfer 1 to 6: $344
- Hot Air Balloon Flight with Transfers: $327
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $267
- Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $258
- Cairns to Daintree Eco Lodge ONE WAY Private Transfer 6 pax: $255
- Outer Barrier Reef Full Day with transfers from Cairns: $244
- Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $234
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Port Douglas hotels: $180
- Cairns to Port Douglas ONE WAY Private Transfer 6 pax: $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns and Surat Thani 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 daySurat Thani $28Cairns $49
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui: Evening Thai Cooking Class with Organic Garden: $121
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 in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $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: $66,130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $5.72Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- A Walking Tour of Surat Thani's Most Beautiful and Historic Sites: $174
- Adventure trip in koh Phangan: $127
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $80
- Dolphin Watching Tan and Pig Island Tour from Koh Samui : $66
- From Ko Pha Ngan: Angthong Marine Park Speedboat Adventure: $81
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan with Lunch: $69
- Khao Sok ATV Jungle Trail Adventure Experience: $57
- Ko Pha Ngan: Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan Snorkeling Adventure: $81
- Koh Phangan: Quad ATV Jungle Adventure with Scenic Views: $73
- Koh Samui Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island: $53
- Koh Samui: Feed & Shower with Elephants Experience: $65
- Koh Samui: Surron Electric Dirt Bike Jungle Adventure 2H: $93
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:
- Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $47
- 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $134
- 2 Days Tour on Atherton Tablelands and Cape Tribbin: $288
- 2-Day Daintree & Outback Tour from Cairns & Port Douglas: $261
- 2-Day Paronella Park & Tablelands Tour+Cape Tribulation Tour: $324
- 2-Day Waterfall and Daintree Tour: $191
- 30 min Jetski Tour Cairns: $74
- All Inclusive Day Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef: $168
- All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns : $120
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour: $112
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $5.71Cairns $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: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Cairns, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surat Thani or Cairns?
Cairns has a larger population, and is about 154230 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani or Cairns?
Cairns has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Surat Thani experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Surat Thani or Cairns in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Surat Thani is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin January. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 28°C (82°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Surat Thani usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySurat Thani 28°C (82°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Cairns. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Cairns in the autumn. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Surat Thani receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in October than Cairnsin April. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to October in Cairns is the dry season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSurat Thani 27°C (81°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Surat Thani are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Cairns because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surat Thani in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Cairns averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.
In January, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Cairnsin July. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySurat Thani 25°C (77°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Surat Thani during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
In April, Surat Thani is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin October. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 29°C (83°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Surat Thani usually gets more rain in April than Cairnsin October. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. April to October is the dry season in Cairns. November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSurat Thani 29°C (83°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Surat Thani
| Surat Thani | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.