Question 1

Is Manunda a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Manunda is an established inner suburb of Cairns set in a flat, tropical landscape just inland from the city. Streets mix timber Queenslander and post-war cottages with low-rise unit blocks, and many homes have garden-friendly yards shaded by mature trees. Local life feels practical and neighbourhood-focused, with small shopping strips, community and sporting facilities, several parks, good bus connections and an easy drive into the Cairns centre and surrounding coastal suburbs.

The community numbers 5,191 people, with a median age of 39 and a median household income of $1,069 a week (roughly $55,600 a year). The family mix is varied and dwellings are more often rented than owned (57.2% rented, 42.8% owner-occupied). Recent investment in community facilities — including a purpose-built Birch Street Community Hub, a confirmed trustee lease for Cominos House to the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre, and funded upgrades to the sports precinct to add change rooms and improved lighting — is strengthening local services. Whether Manunda suits you will come down to if you value handy access to health, education and retail services and a settled, neighbourhood feel.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Manunda?

Accepted Answer

Housing costs in Manunda sit high against local incomes recorded at the last Census. On these figures, renting a house at $580 a week would take about 54.3% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, while renting a unit at $440 a week would take about 41.2%, and both are a large share of income.

A median unit price of $370,000 works out to about 6.7 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, placing buying a unit well above local incomes. In short, both renting and buying look stretched against what households in Manunda earned at the last Census, with rent taking a particularly large share of weekly income.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Manunda a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months Manunda recorded strong rises in property values: median house values climbed 29.3% and median unit values rose 28.2%. Rental movements were mixed, with house rents increasing 16.0%, a strong gain, while unit rents rose 4.8%, a more modest increase.

For someone weighing Manunda up as an investment, the figures draw a clear line between capital growth and rental income. Both houses and units saw substantial price growth this year, but rental income moved more strongly for houses than for units. Whether that balance suits your objectives and circumstances is for you to judge.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	N/A	$370K
Change in value Past 12 months	29.3%	28.2%
Sold Past 3 months	8	15
Median days on market Past 12 months	22	15
Average rent Past 12 months	$580	$440
Change in rent Past 12 months	16.0%	4.8%

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