Jaffna vs Moratuwa
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Jaffna leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Moratuwa where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Moratuwa's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Jaffna | Moratuwa |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 59 | 60 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 49 | 49 |
| Climate | 69 | 79 |
| Safety | 61 | 56 |
| Summer °C | 30.2 | 28.2 |
| Winter °C | 25.6 | 26.5 |
| Top disaster risk | storms (hurricane/cyclone) | flooding |
Jaffna vs Moratuwa: the short answer
Moratuwa comes out ahead on overall livability (60/100), only marginally above Jaffna (59/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Moratuwa is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Jaffna 49 vs Moratuwa 49, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Jaffna runs warmer in summer (about 30.2°C peak vs 28.2°C in Moratuwa), while winter lows sit near 25.6°C in Jaffna and 26.5°C in Moratuwa. On natural-disaster exposure Jaffna is the safer choice (safety 61/100); the dominant modelled hazard is storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Jaffna and flooding for Moratuwa.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Moratuwa — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Jaffna — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Jaffna — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Moratuwa — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Jaffna or Moratuwa better to live in?
Moratuwa scores higher overall — 60 vs 59 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Jaffna or Moratuwa?
Moratuwa has the lower cost of living (cost index 49 vs 49; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Jaffna or Moratuwa?
Jaffna — summer highs reach about 30.2°C versus 28.2°C in Moratuwa.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Jaffna or Moratuwa?
Jaffna (disaster-safety 61/100). Main hazard: storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Jaffna, flooding in Moratuwa.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Jaffna?
storms (hurricane/cyclone) is the dominant modelled hazard for Jaffna on our risk index.
How is the Jaffna vs Moratuwa comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.