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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,750 per month in Taos, NM vs $2,583 in Cairns, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,128 per month in Taos, NM vs $3,813 in Cairns, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,505 per month in Taos, NM vs $5,042 in Cairns, rent included.

Taos, NM costs about 6% more than Cairns, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Taos, NM and Cairns sit above the global median – Taos, NM by 100%, Cairns by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.06 $17.06

$18.09 A$25.30

-5.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.4 $63.4

$102 A$142

-37.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 $9.44

$12.76 A$17.85

-26.02%

Cappuccino

$3.97 $3.97

$4.60 A$6.44

-13.70%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$3.23 A$4.52

-29.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.76 A$3.87

-20.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$7.13 A$9.97

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.43 $5.43

$8.38 A$11.72

-35.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.97 A$2.76

-58.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.77 A$3.87

11.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.62 A$3.66

72.52%

Eggs

$3.87 $3.87

$5.44 A$7.61

-28.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.66 $11.66

$9.54 A$13.34

22.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.46 $9.46

$14.28 A$19.97

-33.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$15.30 A$21.41

-27.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.09 A$5.72

12.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.83 A$3.96

-48.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.67 A$5.14

12.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.83 A$8.15

-10.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.68 A$3.74

21.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.58 A$3.61

28.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.85 A$3.99

-30.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.59 A$3.62

-6.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.40 $10.40

$44.99 A$62.9

-76.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 $14.12

$14.49 A$20.27

-2.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.56 A$4.98

-31.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.51 A$7.71

-42.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.55 A$4.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.04 A$22.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.70 A$3.77

31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 A$2.77

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.57 $31.57

$43.74 A$61.2

-27.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.23 A$1.71

-24.39%

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

$30.9K $30.9K

$31.4K A$43.9K

-1.61%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$42.2K A$59.1K

-41.99%

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

$155 $155

$165 A$231

-6.12%

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

$64.4 $64.4

$35.34 A$49.43

82.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$69.2 A$96.8

-10.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.7 $96.7

$46.13 A$64.5

109.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.53 A$39.91

Cinema Ticket

$8.63 $8.63

$14.55 A$20.36

-40.69%

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

$1,471 $1,471

$2,156 A$3,016

-31.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$14.2K A$19.9K

73.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$93.2 A$130

-41.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.35 $43.35

$73.3 A$102

-40.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$124 A$174

-15.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$137 A$191

-12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,814 $1,814

$1,517 A$2,122

19.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,255 A$1,755

28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,587 $3,587

$2,315 A$3,239

54.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,814 $2,814

$1,985 A$2,777

41.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,385 $4,385

$6,709 A$9,385

-34.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,498 $4,498

$5,173 A$7,237

-13.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,689 $2,689

$4,565 A$6,385

-41.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.32

-3.48%

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

Last update for Taos, NM: August 30, 2026

Last update for Cairns: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,814 in Taos, NM versus $1,517 in Cairns. 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 70% 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 $63.0 in Taos, NM versus $102 in Cairns. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $420 – making Taos, NM 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

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

Taos, NM costs about 6% more than Cairns, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,125 per month in Taos, NM and $3,875 in Cairns. 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 $2,750 in Taos, NM and $2,583 in Cairns. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,471 per month in Taos, NM and $2,156 in Cairns. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,750 in Taos, NM and $2,583 in Cairns. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.