Kandy vs Trincomalee
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Kandy leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Trincomalee where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Trincomalee's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Kandy | Trincomalee |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 68 | 60 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 50 | 50 |
| Climate | 94 | 70 |
| Safety | 63 | 62 |
| Summer °C | 25.1 | 30.0 |
| Winter °C | 22.4 | 25.8 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | storms (hurricane/cyclone) |
Kandy vs Trincomalee: the short answer
Kandy comes out ahead on overall livability (68/100), clearly above Trincomalee (60/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Trincomalee is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Kandy 50 vs Trincomalee 50, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Trincomalee runs warmer in summer (about 30.0°C peak vs 25.1°C in Kandy), while winter lows sit near 22.4°C in Kandy and 25.8°C in Trincomalee. On natural-disaster exposure Kandy is the safer choice (safety 63/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Kandy and storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Trincomalee.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Trincomalee — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Trincomalee — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Kandy — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Kandy — 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 Kandy or Trincomalee better to live in?
Kandy scores higher overall — 68 vs 60 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Kandy or Trincomalee?
Trincomalee has the lower cost of living (cost index 50 vs 50; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Kandy or Trincomalee?
Trincomalee — summer highs reach about 30.0°C versus 25.1°C in Kandy.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Kandy or Trincomalee?
Kandy (disaster-safety 63/100). Main hazard: flooding in Kandy, storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Trincomalee.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Kandy?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Kandy on our risk index.
How is the Kandy vs Trincomalee 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.