Cairns, Australia 🇦🇺
#90
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
42%
Weight: 150
Cairns is moderately expensive compared to many global cities, with higher costs due to its remote location and tourism-driven economy.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
38%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are relatively high, especially for short-term stays and quality apartments near the city center.
🍎 Food & Groceries
51%
Weight: 40
Groceries and dining out are moderately priced but can be expensive compared to mainland Australian cities due to import costs.
🚌 Transportation Cost
67%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; many rely on cars or bikes, which can increase costs.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are somewhat limited but reasonably priced, with many outdoor activities being free or low cost.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
55%
Weight: 10
Average gym memberships are moderately priced, with several options available.
💱 Currency Stability
91%
Weight: 30
Australian Dollar is stable and reliable for international transactions.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
73%
Weight: 100
Good NBN broadband coverage with speeds suitable for remote work, though occasional fluctuations occur.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
52%
Weight: 40
A few coworking spaces exist but options are limited compared to larger Australian cities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, popular among locals and tourists alike.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
64%
Weight: 30
Several cafes cater to remote workers with good seating and power outlets.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
41%
Weight: 100
Cairns is not a major digital nomad hub but attracts some due to its natural surroundings.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
85%
Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on outdoor lifestyle and relaxation, promoting good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
89%
Weight: 15
Excellent natural environment with proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests.
🧼 Cleanliness
80%
Weight: 10
Generally clean city with good public maintenance.
🗨️ Language Barrier
95%
Weight: 30
English is the primary language, making communication easy for most international nomads.
💨 Air Quality
76%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality, though occasional smoke haze from regional bushfires can occur.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good healthcare facilities available, though specialized services may require travel to larger cities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
50%
Weight: 25
Healthcare can be expensive without insurance; Australia’s system is high quality but costly for visitors.
🏥 Healthcare
75%
Weight: 20
Reliable healthcare services with emergency and general care accessible.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
82%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; wet season can bring heavy rains and humidity.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
53%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of cyclones and flooding during wet season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
90%
Weight: 10
Abundant parks, gardens, and access to natural reserves and beaches.
❄️ Air Conditioning
87%
Weight: 15
Most accommodations and public places are well air-conditioned due to tropical climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
40%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variation; mostly warm and humid with wet and dry seasons.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
65%
Weight: 20
Small but diverse cultural scene with Indigenous heritage and tourism influences.
🌃 Nightlife
48%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; more focused on casual bars and live music than clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
97%
Weight: 15
Exceptional access to outdoor activities including reef diving, hiking, and rainforest exploration.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools but informal opportunities through community and cultural events.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
93%
Weight: 10
Wide range of tours and experiences focused on nature and Indigenous culture.
🎳 Indoors Fun
55%
Weight: 10
Indoor entertainment options are limited; focus is more on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
67%
Weight: 25
Good variety of fresh seafood and multicultural cuisine, though options are fewer than in major cities.
🧠 Yoga Studios
60%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available catering to locals and tourists.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
63%
Weight: 15
Adequate gyms and fitness centers, though not extensive.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good availability of fresh produce and health-conscious eateries.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
68%
Weight: 20
UTC+10, favorable for Asia-Pacific clients but less so for Europe and Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
45%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
50%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
47%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small but growing slowly.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but limited in number and amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem compared to major Australian cities.
💳 Local Payment Services
75%
Weight: 10
Well-developed payment infrastructure with widespread use of cards and mobile payments.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest but limited local adoption and services.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
62%
Weight: 30
Cairns Airport offers domestic and some international flights but limited compared to major hubs.
🚇 Public Transit
40%
Weight: 20
Public transport options are limited and infrequent.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but many areas require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Uber and other ride-sharing services are available and commonly used.
🚲 Cycling
65%
Weight: 10
Decent cycling infrastructure with scenic routes but limited bike lanes in some areas.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
50%
Weight: 15
Limited train services; mostly reliant on buses and flights.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Some bike rental options; scooter rentals are rare.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage with expanding 5G availability.
🔒 VPN Reliability
85%
Weight: 20
Reliable internet infrastructure supports stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
80%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
68%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Standard Australian visa processes apply; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Australia has relatively high taxes and complex regulations for freelancers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
90%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
88%
Weight: 20
Stable political environment with low risk of unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
60%
Weight: 15
Reasonably straightforward for residents; more complex for short-term visitors.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
65%
Weight: 10
Business registration is streamlined but requires compliance with Australian regulations.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available in Australia.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
55%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly with good lifestyle but limited infrastructure tailored to nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
40%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups specifically for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Small but growing online community of nomads in Cairns.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
79%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates, though standard precautions advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
75%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming environment for female travelers and nomads.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society with multicultural population, though occasional issues exist.