Not Delhi or Bengaluru — This Indian city joins New York on the world’s most stressed cities list

New York City might be the place where dreams are made, but a new study says it’s also where stress levels hit the roof. The Big Apple has been named the most stressed city in the world, thanks to sky-high living costs, jam-packed roads and rising crime. And it’s not just the usual global hotspots feeling the pressure, the Indian city Kolkata has also landed in the top 10. 

A new global study by finance company Remitly looked at factors such as cost of living, traffic congestion, crime, pollution, and access to healthcare across more than 170 major cities, and the Big Apple topped the list, while Dublin ranked second. Check out the Top 10 most stressed cities in the world.

Kolkata: India’s ‘stressed’ entry at number 10

Among the top 10 stressed cities, Kolkata represents India. High population density, traffic jams, and rising costs of daily living have become the main reasons for residents’ stress. 

The city clocks an average of 34 minutes and 33 seconds to travel just 10 km. Its cost of living index stands at 19.6, showing the price of essentials like groceries and transport (minus housing). The healthcare index is 60, indicating relatively strong access to and quality of medical services, while a crime index of 46 suggests moderate safety concerns. The overall stress score is 6.89 out of 10.

New York leads the stress chart

New York City tops the list of stressed cities with a score of 7.56 out of 10. The main reason is skyrocketing living costs, including record-high rents and rising prices for groceries, utilities, and insurance.

Even with access to good healthcare and cleaner areas in some parts of the city, many New Yorkers feel constant financial pressure, making life in the Big Apple highly stressful. The findings come at a time when Manhattan rents are breaking records yet again. The average rent now stands at $4,625, a 7.6% jump from last year, according to Miller Samuel Inc. and Douglas Elliman.

Dublin: Beautiful but stressful

Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is now ranked the second most stressful city in the world, only slightly behind New York. The city scored 7.55 out of 10 on the global stress index, based on factors like the cost of living and commuting times.

One major factor driving the stress levels up is the rising cost of housing. Recent research shows Ireland’s house-price-to-income ratio is about 11% higher than its long-term average, meaning houses are becoming harder to afford for many residents. Dublin commuters also face long travel times. On average, it takes 32 minutes and 45 seconds to travel just 10 kilometres, among the longest in Europe.

Mexico City, Manila, and others

Mexico City ranks third, with a stress score of 7.38. Heavy congestion, long commutes, and safety concerns are the top reasons behind the daily stress, with the city’s crime index among the highest in the study.

Other cities like Manila and London also make the top five, facing stress from high costs of living, traffic, and other urban challenges. On the other hand, Eindhoven in the Netherlands came out as the least stressed city in the world, earning a remarkably low score of just 2.34.

The global stress list also features cities like London (7.25), Athens (7.23), São Paulo (7.14) and Turin (6.90)

Src: Remitly