Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte vs Kandy
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Kandy where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Kandy's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte | Kandy |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 63 | 68 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 50 | 50 |
| Climate | 79 | 94 |
| Safety | 61 | 63 |
| Summer °C | 28.2 | 25.1 |
| Winter °C | 26.5 | 22.4 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte vs Kandy: the short answer
Kandy comes out ahead on overall livability (68/100), modestly above Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (63/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Kandy is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte 50 vs Kandy 50, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte runs warmer in summer (about 28.2°C peak vs 25.1°C in Kandy), while winter lows sit near 26.5°C in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte and 22.4°C in Kandy. On natural-disaster exposure Kandy is the safer choice (safety 63/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte and flooding for Kandy.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Kandy — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte — 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 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte or Kandy better to live in?
Kandy scores higher overall — 68 vs 63 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte or Kandy?
Kandy has the lower cost of living (cost index 50 vs 50; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte or Kandy?
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte — summer highs reach about 28.2°C versus 25.1°C in Kandy.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte or Kandy?
Kandy (disaster-safety 63/100). Main hazard: flooding in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, flooding in Kandy.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte on our risk index.
How is the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte vs Kandy 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.