Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairns and Taos, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairns and Taos, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,317 per month in Cairns vs $2,800 in Taos, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,472 per month in Cairns vs $4,244 in Taos, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,627 per month in Cairns vs $5,688 in Taos, NM, rent included.

Cairns is about 17% cheaper than Taos, NM, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cairns and Taos, NM sit above the global median – Cairns by 73%, Taos, NM by 109%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.59 A$16.15

$17.23 $17.23

-32.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 A$113

$81.6 $81.6

-0.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 A$15.16

$9.78 $9.78

11.25%

Cappuccino

$3.75 A$5.23

$4.01 $4.01

-6.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 A$3.96

$2.31 $2.31

22.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 A$3.21

$1.77 $1.77

29.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.43 A$8.96

$5.03 $5.03

27.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 A$9.70

$5.55 $5.55

25.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.05 $1.05

65.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 A$3.40

$2.90 $2.90

-15.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 A$3.74

$3.28 $3.28

-18.29%

Eggs

$4.00 A$5.58

$4.00 $4.00

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.18 A$11.40

$12.79 $12.79

-36.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.26 A$12.90

$10.18 $10.18

-9.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.76 A$17.78

$16.58 $16.58

-23.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 A$4.15

$4.77 $4.77

-37.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 A$3.10

$1.44 $1.44

54.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 A$3.83

$3.75 $3.75

-26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.39 A$10.30

$4.41 $4.41

67.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 A$3.11

$2.48 $2.48

-10.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.25

$2.53 $2.53

-7.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 A$3.16

$2.03 $2.03

11.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 A$3.99

$2.22 $2.22

28.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$28.71 A$40.01

$10.02 $10.02

186.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.50 A$16.02

$14.21 $14.21

-19.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.40 A$4.74

$1.74 $1.74

95.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 A$4.86

$2.66 $2.66

31.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.27 A$4.56

$1.98 $1.98

65.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 A$90.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.64 A$9.26

$3.45 $3.45

92.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 A$4.44

$1.79 $1.79

78.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.95 A$47.31

$28.97 $28.97

17.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 A$1.53

$0.80 $0.80

37.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K A$31.8K

$31.0K $31.0K

-26.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.1K A$26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

-27.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$149 A$207

$173 $173

-14.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.35 A$52.1

$52.0 $52.0

-28.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 A$81.6

$67.6 $67.6

-13.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.65 A$53.9

$95.7 $95.7

-59.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.95 A$22.23

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 A$18.45

$9.12 $9.12

45.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,636 A$2,280

$1,210 $1,210

35.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K A$16.6K

$5,891 $5,891

101.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.6 A$116

$53.3 $53.3

56.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.6 A$92.8

$51.0 $51.0

30.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 A$141

$98.5 $98.5

2.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 A$194

$115 $115

21.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 A$1,714

$1,671 $1,671

-26.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 A$1,548

$1,610 $1,610

-31.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,987 A$2,769

$3,490 $3,490

-43.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 A$2,601

$3,012 $3,012

-38.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,707 A$9,347

$4,498 $4,498

49.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,132 A$7,151

$4,385 $4,385

17.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,549 A$6,338

$2,734 $2,734

66.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.96

6.49

7.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cairns: June 1, 2026

Last update for Taos, NM: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,230 in Cairns versus $1,671 in Taos, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 66% higher in Cairns, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Cairns versus $82.0 in Taos, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $367 – making Cairns the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cairns vs Taos, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taos, NM costs about 21% more than Cairns, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,476 per month in Cairns and $4,200 in Taos, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cairns, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,317 in Cairns and $2,800 in Taos, NM. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,636 per month in Cairns and $1,210 in Taos, NM. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cairns, where all-in costs run around $2,317, than in Taos, NM at $2,800. In Cairns it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taos, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cairns – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cairns. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taos, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.