Invest in Cairns

Quick facts about investing in Cairns

Growing population

The population of Cairns has been growing steadily since 2011, reflecting the region's increasing economic opportunities, lifestyle appeal, and strategic location as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and northern Queensland. As of June 2025, the estimated population of the Cairns region reached 179,334 (source: .id).

This growth is driven by a combination of factors including migration, both from within Australia and internationally, as well as natural population increase. The expanding population supports and is supported by Cairns' diverse industries such as tourism, marine services, education, and defence, contributing to ongoing urban development and infrastructure investment in the region.

Affordable commercial & residential property

Residential property prices and commercial property rents in Cairns are less than half the cost of major cities, i.e. Sydney. Cairns is also one of the more affordable major regions in Queensland; the median price of a house in Cairns in October 2026 was approximately $793,000 (source: Cairns Report October 2026).

Home to a busy international airport

Cairns International Airport is Australia's busiest regional airport. In 2025/26 financial year, more than 4.8 million passenger movements were recorded at Cairns Airport, making it the seventh-busiest airport in Australia after the capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and also Gold Coast (source: Cairns Airport).

Agricultural food bowl

Our region is part of the agricultural ‘food bowl’ of Northern Australia, which includes the Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands and Innisfail areas, exporting globally from Cairns.

Export & marine industries hub

Cairns is a major maritime hub in northern Australia, home to a cluster of three major shipyards, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Austal Cairns, and Norship Marine, offering world-class facilities for shipbuilding, repair, and refit across defence, commercial, and superyacht sectors.

It also hosts three marinas, including the centrally located Cairns Marlin Marina, which accommodates vessels up to 140 metres and serves as a key destination for visiting superyachts.

The city’s maritime infrastructure is further strengthened by the presence of HMAS Cairns, a Royal Australian Navy base with a fleet of patrol boats and hydrographic ships.

Two universities & education

Cairns is one of Australia’s only regional cities that is home to two universities. Our two universities, James Cook University (JCU) and CQUniversity (CQU) are both rated in the top 500 universities in the world and is a destination of choice for international students.

Hundreds of higher degrees can be studied in Cairns at the levels of certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and graduate diploma, masters and doctorate. Areas of study range from Arts, Aviation and Allied Health to Engineering, Education and Economics, to the Sciences, Sport and Social Work.

TAFE Queensland's Cairns campus, offers a diverse range of vocational courses, including certificates and diplomas in fields such as business, health, hospitality, and trades. With state-of-the-art facilities and support services, it caters to both domestic and international students, providing pathways to employment and further education

Energy & renewables

There are several large-scale renewable energy projects, including wind farms, hydro plants, solar and green energy plants, in the region. Councils and partners are striving for Cairns and Far North Queensland to be leaders in the Smart Green Economy.

Get in touch about investing or investment in Cairns

We can help you take advantage of investment opportunities in Cairns. To find out how, telephone us on +61 7 4044 3284 or

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