Cairns

QLDTier 2KnownSlightly-NegativeEarly-Mid
52
/100
Policy
◆ NEUTRAL
Rank #29

Cairns is Australia's gateway to the Great Barrier Reef — a major international tourism hub with Cairns Airport as a primary employer alongside healthcare (Cairns Hospital) and government services. Residential rental demand is underpinned by permanent resident workers, not purely tourism workers. At $612,500 and $525/wk, cashflow is slightly negative at standard LVR. Vacancy at 1.1% is tight. Note: broader Cairns LGA median house prices are materially higher than the Cairns City suburb figure used here.

Data noticeMarket metrics: 2026·Population: independently verified (2023)·Metrics are progressively reviewed and refreshed
Gross Yield
4.46%
Rent Growth
+6.8%
Price Growth
+9.4%
Vacancy
1.1%
Median Price
$613k
Weekly Rent
$525
Population
160k
Income Level
Med
NG Dependence
Medium
National Rank
#29

Both rents (+6.8% pa) and prices (+9.4% pa) are running above long-run averages in Cairns, alongside vacancy of 1.1%. Rental growth typically validates and leads price growth in supply-constrained markets. This combination indicates demand-driven conditions rather than speculative price inflation.

80% LVR at 6.5% interest. Indicative only.
Annual Rent
$27,300
Annual Interest
$31,850
Net Pre-Costs
$-4,550
NG Required?
Yes
At 6.8% annual rent growth. Model estimate only.
PeriodWeekly rentAnnual rentvs. InterestStatus
Now$525/wk$27,300$-4,550Near-pos
Year 1$561/wk$29,156$-2,694Near-pos
Year 2$599/wk$31,139$-711Near-pos
Year 3$640/wk$33,256+$1,406Positive
Year 4$683/wk$35,518+$3,668Positive

Cairns is Australia's gateway to the Great Barrier Reef — a major international tourism hub with Cairns Airport as a primary employer alongside healthcare (Cairns Hospital) and government services. Residential rental demand is underpinned by permanent resident workers, not purely tourism workers. At $612,500 and $525/wk, cashflow is slightly negative at standard LVR. Vacancy at 1.1% is tight. Note: broader Cairns LGA median house prices are materially higher than the Cairns City suburb figure used here.

Tourism-exposed economy — global events can reduce visitor numbers and affect hospitality employment. Cyclone risk is significant; insurance costs are elevated and rising. Broader Cairns LGA prices ($727k–$745k) imply worse cashflow than the Cairns City figure used here — verify the specific suburb before transacting. Data vintage 2026. Source: realestate.com.au Cairns City. Verify independently.

4.5% yield at $612,500 = $27,300 annual rent vs $31,850 annual interest (80% LVR, 6.5%) = -$4,550. Slightly negative cashflow. Moderate NG dependence at current rate environment.

Cairns Airport — international gateway, major employerCairns Hospital — major regional referral centreGreat Barrier Reef tourism — hospitality and services employment
52 / 100
Rental yield signal
+12
Rental momentum
+13
Yield vs. price spread
+5
Supply tightness
+9
Economic fundamentals
+10
Market liquidity
+10
Discovery discount
-7
Policy adjustment+-1pts
Total score52

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Last reviewedJune 2026
Data vintage2026
ConfidenceHigh
StatusVerified

Model estimates only. Not financial advice. Verify independently.

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