City Guide · Cairns, QLD
The best suburbs to rent in Cairns.
Cairns's coastline defines the rental market here — beachside suburbs at a premium, quieter waterway pockets further out, and a lifestyle renters actively choose over the capital's pace. 32 suburbs, real 2021 ABS Census data behind every figure.
- Population
- 253.7k
- Median weekly rent
- $324
- Renters
- 32.8%
- Suburbs
- 32
ABS 2021 Census
What the data shows about renting in Cairns
Arts & Culture
Street art and small independent galleries give Cairns more creative character than its size would suggest.
Beach & Coast
The coastline is the drawcard — an easy walk or short drive to sand and saltwater most days of the year.
Heritage
Heritage-listed buildings along the main street give Cairns a distinct architectural character you won't find in the newer suburbs nearby.
Parks & Green Space
A well-used local park anchors the community across Cairns, hosting everything from weekend markets to informal Sunday cricket.
Nightlife
The main strip carries a genuine evening buzz on weekends — a few good bars, live music some nights, a steady crowd.
Work & Connectivity
Good fibre coverage and a growing number of co-working spaces make this a popular choice for renters working from home.
Suburbs in Cairns
Atherton
Atherton — median rent $280/wk, 29.6% renters, population 11,625.
Babinda
Babinda — median rent $240/wk, 19.9% renters, population 4,568.
Bentley Park
Bentley Park — median rent $385/wk, 34.0% renters, population 8,360.
Brinsmead
Brinsmead — median rent $450/wk, 20.1% renters, population 5,537.
Cairns City
Cairns City — median rent $330/wk, 59.9% renters, population 12,567.
Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach
Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach — median rent $400/wk, 28.3% renters, population 11,789.
Daintree
Daintree — median rent $260/wk, 26.8% renters, population 6,674.
Earlville - Bayview Heights
Earlville - Bayview Heights — median rent $340/wk, 25.9% renters, population 8,376.
Edmonton
Edmonton — median rent $350/wk, 32.0% renters, population 11,409.
Freshwater - Stratford
Freshwater - Stratford — median rent $350/wk, 27.9% renters, population 3,742.
Gordonvale - Trinity
Gordonvale - Trinity — median rent $330/wk, 20.9% renters, population 9,838.
Herberton
Herberton — median rent $230/wk, 19.6% renters, population 5,522.
Innisfail
Innisfail — median rent $250/wk, 41.9% renters, population 9,257.
Johnstone
Johnstone — median rent $250/wk, 19.3% renters, population 8,002.
Kanimbla - Mooroobool
Kanimbla - Mooroobool — median rent $345/wk, 28.6% renters, population 9,963.
Kuranda
Kuranda — median rent $270/wk, 19.7% renters, population 4,826.
Malanda - Yungaburra
Malanda - Yungaburra — median rent $260/wk, 19.9% renters, population 9,095.
Manoora
Manoora — median rent $270/wk, 59.3% renters, population 6,175.
Manunda
Manunda — median rent $259/wk, 55.1% renters, population 5,191.
Mareeba
Mareeba — median rent $285/wk, 30.2% renters, population 11,825.
Mount Sheridan
Mount Sheridan — median rent $390/wk, 26.3% renters, population 8,678.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas — median rent $350/wk, 36.2% renters, population 5,582.
Redlynch
Redlynch — median rent $420/wk, 21.2% renters, population 13,784.
Trinity Beach - Smithfield
Trinity Beach - Smithfield — median rent $420/wk, 32.0% renters, population 16,791.
Tully
Tully — median rent $265/wk, 28.9% renters, population 10,999.
Westcourt - Bungalow
Westcourt - Bungalow — median rent $280/wk, 57.4% renters, population 6,519.
White Rock
White Rock — median rent $340/wk, 35.9% renters, population 4,918.
Whitfield - Edge Hill
Whitfield - Edge Hill — median rent $325/wk, 32.9% renters, population 8,353.
Woree
Woree — median rent $280/wk, 51.7% renters, population 5,127.
Yarrabah
Yarrabah — median rent $150/wk, 78.6% renters, population 2,505.
Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach
Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach — median rent $310/wk, 39.7% renters, population 6,133.
Cairns rental FAQs
Real questions renters ask about Cairns as a whole.
Is Cairns a good place to rent?
It depends heavily on which part of Cairns — that's the whole premise of comparing at the suburb level rather than the city level. Cairns spans a wide range of price points and lifestyles across its 32 profiled suburbs, from 32.8% renter-share inner areas to quieter, more owner-occupied outer suburbs.
Where is it cheapest to rent in Cairns?
Rent varies meaningfully across Cairns's 32 suburbs — the outer and growth-corridor areas consistently come in well under the Cairns-wide median of $324/week, while the inner and lifestyle-premium pockets sit well above it.
What's the median rent in Cairns?
$324 a week, population-weighted across all 32 profiled Cairns suburbs (2021 Census).
How many suburbs does Suburb Hunt cover in Cairns?
32 real Cairns SA2 suburbs, from the centre to the outer growth areas — every one with a population of 50 or more, sourced from the 2021 ABS Census.
Not sure which Cairns suburb fits you?
Two minutes. Twelve questions. We narrow it to your top three — by your budget, your commute, your weekend habits.
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