Canberra has been ranked the third least stressed city in the world, according to a new global study that analysed more than 170 major cities.

The research, conducted by international financial services company Remitly, placed the national capital behind only Eindhoven and Utrecht in the Netherlands, which took out first and second place, respectively. Brisbane was the only other Australian city to feature on the list, ranking at number nine among the world’s least stressed cities.

Canberra recorded a stress score of 2.80 out of 10, well below many global cities, with shorter commute times, predictable travel conditions and some of the cleanest air in the world contributing to its result. IQAir data shows Canberra’s average annual air pollution level was just 3.9 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024. While Canberra’s cost of living is lower than the two Dutch cities in the spots above (69.3), it’s the higher crime scores (26.8) and lower healthcare quality (72.6) that mean it misses out on gold or silver.

At the other end of the scale, New York was ranked the most stressed city in the world, with a score of 7.56 out of 10. Dublin followed closely behind, while Mexico City rounded out the top three most stressed locations, driven by long commutes, high living costs and safety concerns.

Remitly’s index assessed cities across five measurable factors linked to stress: average commute time over 10 kilometres, cost of living, healthcare quality and access, crime levels and air pollution. Each factor was scored and combined to create an overall stress score out of 10, with higher scores indicating more stressful living conditions.

European cities dominated the least stressed rankings, with four Dutch cities featuring in the top 10. The study found that cities with strong healthcare systems, cleaner air and manageable commute times consistently ranked as more relaxed places to live.

While individual experiences of stress vary, the findings suggest Canberra’s balance of infrastructure, environment and lifestyle places it among the most relaxed cities globally.

Least Stressed Cities

1. Eindhoven, Netherlands (2.34/10 stress score)
2. Utrecht, Netherlands (2.67)
3. Canberra, Australia (2.8)
4. Tallinn, Estonia (2.83)
5. Groningen, Netherlands (2.84)
6. Trondheim, Norway (2.84)
7. Bergen, Norway (2.85)
8. Porto, Portugal (2.97)
9. Brisbane, Australia (2.98)
10. Rotterdam, Netherlands (3.34)

Most Stressed Cities

1. New York, United States (7.56)
2. Dublin, Ireland (7.55)
3. Mexico City, Mexico (7.38)
4. Manila, Philippines (7.34)
5. London, United Kingdom (7.25)
6. Milan, Italy (7.25)
7. Athens, Greece (7.23)
8. São Paulo, Brazil (7.14)
9. Turin, Italy (6.9)
10. Kolkata, India (6.89)

Do you agree with the findings?