--- title: "Cairns City Backpackers vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central" description: "Pick Mad Monkey Backpackers Central. It leads in 3 of 4 categories. Cairns City Backpackers or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central in Cairns? Compare guest…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-15 --- # Cairns City Backpackers vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central Both are in Cairns, 660 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · ★★ · Parramatta Park ## [Cairns City Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.1 · Good - **Location score:** 6.4 - **Score by category:** 0 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1238046/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · ★★ · Cairns City ## [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.7 · Good - **Location score:** 8.3 - **Score by category:** 3 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1809419/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Mad Monkey Backpackers Central It leads in 3 of 4 categories. 660 m apart. ### Choose Mad Monkey Backpackers Central if you want - the more consistently praised stay - to be closer to the beach - more restaurants on the doorstep ### Why is Cairns City Backpackers better than Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? 1. More guest reviews (136 vs 67), so the rating is more reliable (×2.0) 2. Earlier check-in (11:00 vs 14:00) (−3h) ### Why is Mad Monkey Backpackers Central better than Cairns City Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (7.7 vs 7.1) (+0.6) 2. 630 m closer to the beach (570 m vs 1.2 km) (−630 m) 3. 132 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+132) 4. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 91 vs 54) (+37) 5. 9 more sights within 1 km (+9) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Cairns City Backpackers | Mad Monkey Backpackers Central | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 7.7 (+0.6) | | Location | 6.4 | 8.3 (+1.9) | | Beach access | 6.2 | 8.4 (+2.2) | | Public transport | 8.4 | 8.6 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.3 | 7.9 (+0.6) | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 7.7 (+0.6) | | Number of reviews | 136 (+69) | 67 | | Google rating | 3.9/5 | – | | Google reviews | 267 | – | | Rank in Cairns | top 98% | top 84% (+14%) | | Location | | Location score | 6.4 | 8.3 (+1.9) | | Distance to the centre | 1.4 km (−210 m) | 1.6 km | | To the beach | 1.2 km | 570 m (−630 m) | | To public transport | 450 m | 410 m | | To the airport | 5.4 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 18 | 150 (+132) | | Sights within 1 km | 4 | 13 (+9) | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★ | ★★ | | Rooms | 20 | – | | Listed amenities | 8 | 11 (+3) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 11:00 (−3h) | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Swimming pool | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | Airport transfer | – | ✓ | | Luggage storage | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Gym | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | – | ✓ | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Beach holidays | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | ✓ | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-cairns-city-backpackers-cairns/) ## Location 660 m apart ## Cairns City Backpackers or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central: common questions ### Which is better, Cairns City Backpackers or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? Mad Monkey Backpackers Central leads in 3 of 4 categories, including guest rating, location, beach access. ### Which is cheaper, Cairns City Backpackers or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Cairns City Backpackers is closer: 1.4 km from the centre, against 1.6 km for Mad Monkey Backpackers Central. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Mad Monkey Backpackers Central is 570 m from the nearest beach; Cairns City Backpackers is 1.2 km. ### How far apart are Cairns City Backpackers and Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? The two hotels are 660 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Cairns City Backpackers vs Ryans Rest Boutique Accommodation](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-ryans-rest-boutique-accommodation-cairns/) - [Cairns City Backpackers vs Dreamtime Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-dreamtime-hostel-cairns/) - [Cairns City Backpackers vs Bounce Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bounce-cairns-cairns-vs-cairns-city-backpackers-cairns/) - [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Bounce Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bounce-cairns-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/) - [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Mumma 's Hostel Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-mumma-s-hostel-cairns-cairns/) - [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Wanna Stay?](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-cairns/) - [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs The Jack Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-the-jack-backpackers-cairns/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/