Fellow New Yorkers, there’s good news and there’s bad news. No, you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the mere act of existing in New York City. But sadly, that’s because a new study has officially declared it to be the most stressful city in the world.
Remitly evaluated more than 170 major cities based on five metrics: cost of living, commuting congestion, crime, pollution and access to healthcare. And New York landed at the top of the list with a stress score of 7.56 out of 10. The most stress-inducing aspect of NYC for most residents was the cost of living, which is no surprise to anyone who has ever tried to order a burger at a restaurant without a loan. But finances aren’t the only pressure. The study also cites long commute times as another major stressor, while crime and public-safety concerns weighed heavily.
On the flip side, NYC ranked well on air quality and access to healthcare, both of which contributed to offsetting some of the other stressors. But that relief couldn’t completely cancel out the rest, including a cost-of-living index of 100. Ouch…