Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Manunda
42.4/100
Cairns City for retirees and families; Manunda for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Cairns City
52.4/100
Manunda
42.4/100
Crime rate
Cairns City
236.8 / 1k
Manunda
236.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
810
Manunda
171
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Manunda
5,191
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Cairns City | Manunda |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 52.4/100 | 42.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.9/100 | 70.5/100 |
| Crime rate | 236.8 / 1k | 236.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 7 |
| Weather (desirability) | 11.8/100 | 11.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 10 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 810 | 171 |
| Green cover | 5.3% | 16.1% |
| Population | 3,616 | 5,191 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 1/10 |
Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, while Manunda is a regional hub with its own identity and everyday convenience. Cairns City leans into coastal living, while Manunda feels more inland and suburban in character.
Cairns City pulls ahead on walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and overall desirability, whereas Manunda is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and schools and education options. On housing, Cairns City sits in a gently premium band, compared with a affordable feel in Manunda.
Choose Cairns City if you are weighing retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools; lean toward Manunda for investors and value-focused buyers.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.