Sometimes, where we live is the cause of our stress.
From long commutes filled with traffic jams to high costs of living and equally high crime rates and pollution, certain cities can feel more stressful than others for their residents. These small daily stresses can add up and take their toll on someone's well-being.
In an August 2025 survey of 4,500 people by mobile money transfer service Remitly, the top reason people want to relocate is to improve their quality of life. They often seek out a place with a slower pace of living, a more relaxed lifestyle and more affordability.
To help people figure out where to live, Remitly compiled a ranking of the most stressful cities in the world. Using data collected in October, Remitly financial experts analyzed over 170 major cities, weighing factors that often contribute to stress, such as average commute time, cost of living, health care index, crime and safety, and air quality.
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