Economy, jobs and prices in Cairns, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the Cairns Region who had income was $55,547 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 7th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the Cairns Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Cairns?
The median employee income in the Cairns Region was $57,278 for the year 2022-23, 5th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Cairns?
The median equivalised household income in the Cairns Region was $1,012 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 9th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Cairns?
The unemployment rate in the Cairns Region was 5.7% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), 6th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Cairns?
62.5% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 16th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Cairns?
Of the 79,649 employed residents of the Cairns Region at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (18.1%; 14.5% nationally), accommodation and food services (9.9%) and retail trade (9.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Cairns?
15,166 businesses were registered in the Cairns Region at 30 June 2025, which is 85 for every 1,000 residents (10th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 59% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Cairns in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the Cairns Region in 2024-25 covered 698 new dwellings (3.9 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $565 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Cairns?
The median price of an established house sold in the Cairns Region in 2023-24 was $615,000, 7th lowest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $352,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Cairns?
15.7% of occupied homes in the Cairns Region were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 35.0% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Cairns do not own a car?
6.4% of households in the Cairns Region had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 11th lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Cairns in 2024?
3,230 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the Cairns Region in 2024, 18.2 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Cairns compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Cairns ranks 6 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hobart | 7.0% |
| 4 | Greater Hobart | 6.2% |
| 5 | Perth | 6.1% |
| 6 | Cairns | 5.7% |
| 7 | Sydney | 5.6% |
| 8 | Greater Brisbane | 5.5% |
| 9 | Greater Adelaide | 5.5% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Cairns ranks 20 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Perth | $56,520 |
| 18 | Ballarat | $55,825 |
| 19 | Toowoomba | $55,551 |
| 20 | Cairns | $55,547 |
| 21 | Central Coast | $55,035 |
| 22 | Bendigo | $55,007 |
| 23 | Gold Coast | $53,824 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Cairns ranks 17 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Greater Perth | 87 |
| 15 | Greater Adelaide | 87 |
| 16 | Greater Brisbane | 86 |
| 17 | Cairns | 85 |
| 18 | Ballarat | 83 |
| 19 | Geelong | 80 |
| 20 | Greater Darwin | 79 |
More on Cairns: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.