Kathrine Frich
Daily life in major cities can feel overwhelming with high costs, congestion and constant pressure.
As urban populations grow, researchers are increasingly trying to measure which places make life calmer, and which push stress to the limit.
A new global ranking offers a stark contrast between the two extremes.
Measuring calm
American financial company Remitly analyzed 170 major cities worldwide to identify where residents experience the least and most stress.
The study assessed factors including cost of living, access to healthcare, crime levels, air quality and the time needed to walk 10 kilometers.
Each city was scored on a scale from 1, considered the best, to 10, the worst. The lower the score, the more peaceful the city was deemed to be.
At the top of the ranking was Eindhoven, which recorded an average score of 2.34.
Why eindhoven stands out
Remitly attributed Eindhoven’s strong result to a combination of relatively short commuting times, low crime levels and a well-functioning healthcare system.
The city outperformed capitals and megacities across Europe, Asia and the Americas, securing first place as the most peaceful city in the survey.
Other cities scoring highly for quality of life included locations in Australia, Scandinavia and southern Europe, reflecting a broader trend toward smaller, well-connected urban centers performing better than global hubs.
Stress at the other end
At the opposite end of the ranking, New York City was named the most stressful city in the world, with a score of 7.56.
Remitly pointed to the city’s high cost of living and relentless pace of life as key contributors to its ranking.
Dublin followed closely behind, with a score of 7.55, where expensive housing and long commutes were cited as major stress factors.
Mexico City placed third among the most stressful cities, driven in part by concerns over crime alongside other quality-of-life challenges.
The list of the most stressful cities also included major European and Asian metropolises such as London, Milan, Athens and Manila,
Effectively revealing what we already know: That size and global importance do not necessarily translate into better living conditions.
Sources: Remitly, WP.
