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The Least Stressful City to Live In: Travel & Leisure's Global Ranking

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. -to-live-in-travel-leisure-s-global-ranking.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 8:58 GMT by Travel + Leisure

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The Least Stressful City to Live In – A Deep Dive into Travel + Leisure’s Latest Findings

Travel & Leisure’s new feature, “The Least Stressful City to Live In,” takes a closer look at a global ranking of cities that are not only vibrant and culturally rich but also surprisingly low on the stress‑scale. While the world is increasingly moving toward urbanization, the study reveals that a handful of metropolises offer residents a calm, balanced, and healthy living environment. In this article we distill the key points, methodology, and take‑aways from the original piece and the web‑linked sources that deepen the discussion.

1. How Was “Stress” Measured?

The article’s authors note that “stress” is a multifaceted concept, so the research team turned to a composite index that integrates both objective data and subjective well‑being metrics. The index is based on the following components:

These elements were weighted according to a survey of 3,200 residents across 50 cities worldwide. The final score was then inverted so that a higher final figure represented a lower stress environment. The cities that topped the list earned the lowest scores (hence “least stressful”).

2. The Top 10 Least‑Stressful Cities

Below is the condensed list of the top 10 cities, accompanied by a few notable attributes that distinguish each city:

All cities also scored highly on mental‑health indicators, with a median of 5.3 mental‑health facilities per 10,000 residents—double the global average.

3. Why Are These Cities Stress‑Free?

The article emphasizes three interlocking themes that differentiate low‑stress cities from their more volatile counterparts:

1. Built‑Environment Design – Many of the cities in the top ten have a city‑planning ethos that prioritizes walkability, bike lanes, and efficient public transit. This reduces commute times, lowers noise, and encourages a more active lifestyle.

2. Societal Norms – In places like Denmark, Australia, and Switzerland, social policies emphasize work‑life balance. The average work week is below 38 hours in these countries, and vacation policies are generous—leading to less burnout.

3. Mental‑Health Infrastructure – The presence of easily accessible counseling centers, crisis hotlines, and community health programs is highlighted as a critical buffer against chronic stress. The Travel & Leisure piece links to a World Health Organization report on “Mental Health in Urban Settings” for more detailed data.

4. Further Reading – Follow‑On Links

Travel & Leisure’s article links to several external resources that give readers a deeper dive into the research:

• World Happiness Report 2023 – Provides a global perspective on what makes people feel content. The link contains an interactive map and a downloadable dataset on happiness scores.

• OECD Better Life Index – Offers a side‑by‑side comparison of living conditions across OECD member countries, including mental‑wellness metrics.

• Eurostat Public Transit Database – Gives real‑time transit statistics for EU cities, including average travel times and coverage.

• World Bank Global Safety Index – An in‑depth look at safety statistics for each city, allowing readers to verify the crime‑rate data.

• WHO Environmental Health Reports – Detailed PDFs on noise and air quality, including a comparative list of the 20 healthiest cities worldwide.

These resources reinforce the article’s claim that a city’s quality of life is a function of both policy and environment.

5. Take‑Away for the Aspiring Urbanite

If you’re planning a move to an international city—or simply curious about where to live a calmer life—here are the main lessons from the article:

• Prioritize Accessibility: Cities with a high density of public transit stops and bike lanes score lower on stress.
• Check the Work Culture: A shorter average work week and generous vacation time are strong indicators of societal well‑being.
• Verify Green Spaces: Parks and waterfronts help reduce cortisol levels; cities that have integrated green infrastructure rank higher.
• Look at Mental‑Health Services: A robust network of counseling centers and community outreach programs indicates that the city cares about its residents’ mental well‑being.

By applying these criteria, you can use the Travel & Leisure list as a starting point for deeper research into the cities that best meet your personal definition of low‑stress living.

In a nutshell, Travel & Leisure’s “Least Stressful City to Live In” article does more than just name a few places. It provides a data‑driven, multi‑dimensional look at what urban environments actually do to ease daily tension. Whether you’re a retiree, a remote worker, or a young professional, this ranking offers a clear framework for choosing a city that supports both your career and your mental health.