Are you dreaming of moving from Brisbane to Cairns? With stunning natural beauty and a bustling hospitality scene, Cairns is a thriving Tropical city attracting more Brisbane residents who are keen to relocate. To start enjoying everything on offer in the paradise of Cairns, you will need to plan and book your regional move!
Moving always requires a lot of organisation and planning, and a regional relocation is no exception! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at first. Fortunately, the Allied Brisbane removalist team and the Cairns removalist team both have extensive moving experience and know what it takes to achieve a successful and hassle-free move. We have created this helpful guide which has everything you need to know about living in Cairns and how you can ensure you’re prepared for your relocation.
Living in Cairns
As it is known as the ‘gateway’ to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is an incredibly popular tourist destination. It is also a great place to live! As a regional city, you get the perks of a bigger city like Brisbane without the exorbitant cost of living. We explain what everyday living in Cairns is like and how it will compare to life in Brisbane.
WORK & CAREER
Although tourism is a big industry in Cairns, there are plenty of other industries that offer career opportunities. Some thriving industries in Cairns include healthcare and social assistance, marine, construction, arts and culture, aviation and marine. There are also two universities in Cairns, James Cook University and CQUniversity, so it’s the perfect place to upskill and develop your career.
HOUSING
One of the benefits of moving to Cairns from Brisbane is that it’s more affordable. Realestate.com states that the median house price in Cairns is $565,000, which is more affordable than Brisbane’s median house price of $742,500.
Renting is also more affordable in Cairns than in Brisbane. According to Numbeo, overall rent Prices in Cairns are 34.8% lower than in Brisbane. The average cost of renting a 3-bedroom in the city centre is $2,566 in Cairns, compared to Brisbane’s average of $4,123.
The exact cost of housing in Cairns will vary depending on which suburb you choose to live in. Popular suburbs in Cairns include Palm Cove, Redlynch, Smithfield, Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Freshwater, and Edge Hill.
TRANSPORTATION
In Cairns, the majority of residents own a car. The public transportation system is limited to the Sunbus buses. If you are a keen cyclist, you’ll love living in Cairns! There are multiple bike paths and shared pathways which are great whether you are riding to commute or recreationally.
CLIMATE
Cairns has a tropical monsoon climate so it is warmer and more humid than Brisbane. You’ll experience hot and humid summers with temperatures averaging between 23- 31°, as well as some wet weather. The winters are mild and dry winters, with temperatures between 17 - 26°C.
THE CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
The relaxed and outdoor-centric Cairns lifestyle is ideal for Brisbane residents who are keen to embrace a slower pace of life. In Cairns, you’ll be able to enjoy all the spoils of the great outdoors! From walking the beautiful beaches, hiking in the rainforest, and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, there’s so much to be excited about when it comes to activities in Cairns.
Cairns is growing its culinary scene, with more restaurants, cafes and bars beginning to pop up across the city. There is a party scene in Cairns, with many backpackers and other tourists relishing the nightlife. You’ll also discover the emerging Cairns’ arts culture which includes some art galleries, boutiques and live music.
Planning Your Move to Cairns
So, you have a basic understanding of what living in Cairns is like and how it compares to Brisbane. Now, it’s time to begin planning your exciting regional move! Follow our tips below to get started.
PACKING BELONGINGS AND FURNITURE
Are you dreading packing for a move? Packing can be a tedious and boring task, but as your belongings and furniture need to travel over 1,708 kilometres, it’s important that you pack properly. Otherwise, you may risk your precious items being broken, damaged or lost during the move. We recommend that you start as early as possible on your packing! The best way is to do a little packing each day to break up the task, and start with seasonal and less frequently used items. Make sure you use proper packing materials such as packing peanuts, bubble wrap and moving boxes to prevent any damage or breakage. To ensure your precious items are safe for the trip to Cairns, we recommend using a professional packing service. The experts will pack your items carefully, using their professional expertise and industry-grade materials so even the most fragile of items will arrive in one piece!
MOVING A CAR OR VEHICLE
As having a car in Cairns is highly convenient, you may wish to bring your car with you from Brisbane. To relocate your vehicle to Cairns, you can choose to drive it yourself or use a vehicle transportation service. Driving it yourself can be a good option, however you’ll need to have the time and energy for the at least 19-hour drive. There are also some incidental expenses which can occur when driving yourself, such as petrol, food, and accommodation. We highly recommend using a professional vehicle service as it will provide you with the time and energy to focus on the other aspects of your move and get settled into your new home.
PREPARING YOUR PET
There’s no doubt that pets are an important part of the family and can find moving just as stressful (if not more) than their owners. To prepare them for your move to Cairns, take your pet to the vet for a basic check-up. Don’t forget to update the details (like address and phone number) of your new home on their collar and microchip. It is a long way to drive with a pet so it’s best to use a pet transportation service. By using a pet relocation service, the experts will ensure that your pet arrives at your new home in Cairns, safely and efficiently.
CONSIDER STORAGE
As moving can be unpredictable at the best of times, having somewhere safe and secure to store your belongings and furniture can make a huge difference to your stress levels and the overall smoothness of your move. We recommend using a storage service to ensure that any additional or non-essential items are in safe hands while you complete your move from Brisbane to Cairns. Short-term storage is ideal as it will provide you with enough time to get settled into your new home. If you are looking to properly store your belongings for extended periods of time, then choose long-term storage. Some storage providers, like Allied, can deliver your stored belongings and furniture to your home in Cairns when you require it, maximising your flexibility and convenience!
MOVING COMPANIES VS DIY MOVING
As you plan your regional move from Brisbane to Cairns, you’ll have to decide whether you will handle the move yourself (D-I-Y style) or enlist the help of a removalist company. There are multiple logistics involved in this move, as well as being time-consuming and sometimes expensive, so it is a big decision to make. Ultimately, your decision should depend on whether it is better value to use removalists for your regional move.
A moving company has the benefit of being highly convenient and sometimes quite cost-effective. This is because there are many costs involved when you move yourself. These costs include such as petrol, packing materials, the time taken to pack and move yourself (including taking time off work), renting a truck or van, and any other incidental expenses.
Keep in mind that if you require multiple moving services, such as pet relocation, storage, and transit insurance, then it’s best to go with a moving company. This is because full-service removalist services can provide a more competitive (and convenient) deal compared to using numerous service providers.
Trusting removalists also have the major advantage of saving you significant time and energy. Moving can be highly stressful, and sometimes even emotional, so this takes some of the pressure off you! A moving company will have the right experience, a high level of training and proper professional equipment to handle your move and carefully look after your belongings, not to mention they will be significantly more efficient. This provides you with more time to settle into your new home and enjoy everything Cairns has to offer!