World's 8 most stressful cities to live in and their biggest pressure points

City life promises opportunity, diversity and career growth, but it can also bring daily pressures that slowly add up. Long commutes, rising grocery bills, concerns about crime, difficulty accessing healthcare and polluted air can shape how stressful life feels in a major urban centre.
A new global index by Remitly analysed more than 170 cities worldwide to identify which may be the most stressful places to live today. The study evaluated five measurable factors: the average time to travel 10 kilometres (data from TomTom), cost of living index, healthcare index and crime index (from Numbeo), and average annual pollution levels (from IQAir). Each city was given a stress score out of 10, with higher scores indicating greater overall strain.
Here are the 10 most stressful cities in the world, according to the index.

While New York might be known for its never-ending pace, this is not necessarily something to be enjoyed. With a cost of living index of 100, it is one of the most expensive cities in the world. This includes everything from housing to everyday items, transportation, and dining out. While the city does have excellent healthcare services, low levels of pollution for such a large population, financial worries still remain a major source of stress for those living there. When combined with the long working hours, intense competition for job opportunities, and challenges of living in such a densely populated area, the pace of life can be extremely demanding.

Dublin’s expanding technology and financial industries have strengthened its job market, yet the city’s affordability issues have grown alongside that economic success. Commute times average about 32 minutes per 10 kilometres, one of the highest figures in Europe, increasing the daily burden for many residents. The pressures on housing continue to be particularly acute. As of late 2024, the house price to income ratio in Ireland was estimated to be around 11% above its average level, which is a reflection of the pressure that the property market is under. In addition, the rising cost of rent, lack of housing, and infrastructure issues continue to pose a problem to the people, especially the younger generation.

Home to more than 22 million people across its metropolitan region, this place is also grappling with chronic traffic congestion and stretched infrastructure. Travelling just 10 kilometres can take nearly 32 minutes on average, highlighting the impact of gridlock on daily routines. Concerns around personal safety further intensify the pressure. With a crime index score of 66.8, it's one of the places with the highest recorded in the ranking, security remains a regular worry for many residents.

Manila faces persistent traffic bottlenecks, with a 10-kilometre journey taking close to 32 minutes on average. The limited road network and large number of vehicles remain to be factors that continue to make traveling within the Philippine capital region a challenge. In addition, safety issues also contribute to the stress factors of the city. With a crime index of 64.6, Manila is among the more security-sensitive cities in the study. Taking into consideration the high population density, these factors make the city a challenging place to live in for those who live there and have to juggle work and family responsibilities.

However, the international reputation of London is accompanied by high living expenses and longer commute times. Although the quality of healthcare is good, the cost of it and congestion in the city contribute to stress.

The stress level in Milan is determined by the cost of living and the pressure of commuting in a big city. These factors have an impact on the stress level ranking.

Athens is struggling with economic and congestion-related issues that affect the comfort level of living. Cost of living and congestion in the city contribute to the stress level.

The stress level in São Paulo is determined by traffic congestion, air pollution, and crime rates. As one of the biggest cities in the Southern Hemisphere, the city is also under pressure due to its size.