Overall score
Cairns City
56.5/100
Port Douglas
46.4/100
Cairns City vs Port Douglas, QLD suburb comparison
Cairns City for families and beach lifestyle; Port Douglas for retirees and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Cairns CityPort Douglas
Crime rate
Cairns City
145.8 / 1k
Port Douglas
38.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cairns City
799
Port Douglas
55
Population
Cairns City
3,616
Port Douglas
3,650
Metric leadCairns City 5Port Douglas 4across 9 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesPort Douglas
- Best for familiesCairns City
- Best for beach lifestyleCairns City
- Best for investmentPort Douglas
- Best for best valuePort Douglas
- Best for best schoolsCairns City
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Cairns City | Port Douglas |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 56.5/100 | 46.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 10.6/100 | 31.7/100 |
| Crime rate | 145.8 / 1k | 38.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 6 | 1 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 7 |
| Walkability | 95.5/100 | 2.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 799 | 55 |
| Population | 3,616 | 3,650 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 5/10 |
Comparison summary
Cairns City is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, while Port Douglas is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone.
On the data, Cairns City is stronger for schools and education options and walkability; Port Douglas answers with housing affordability and a quieter safety profile. On housing, Cairns City sits in a well priced band, compared with a expensive feel in Port Douglas.
Choose Cairns City if you are weighing people chasing a beach lifestyle and households prioritising schools; lean toward Port Douglas for retirees and families.