Maintaining good health and a healthy lifestyle has never been more important, particularly after two years of restrictions that made it difficult to get outside and exercise. But in 2022, many of us want to make a fresh start. Our team at Lenstore analysed 48 cities around the world to determine which are the best places to achieve that goal.
With so many different factors contributing to a healthy, balanced lifestyle, your surroundings can play a significant role.
From obesity levels to pollution rates, each city has been scored across 10 healthy living metrics. Just one question remains: do you live in the best city for a healthy life?
1. Vienna, Austria
Well known for its culture, art, music and architecture, the Austrian capital is an ideal place to lead a healthy lifestyle. With 1,884 hours of sunshine a year and an affordable cost of living — a bottle of water costs just €0.69 — Austria ranks ninth on the happiness index (among those analysed), and Vienna takes the top spot overall for healthy living.
Hours of sunshine: 1,884
Monthly gym membership cost: €26.90
Happiness levels: 7.2 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,400
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai boasts a staggering 3,509 hours of sunshine per year, making it the second sunniest city, just behind Cairo. This draws many visitors, who are also attracted by its famous beaches and sand dunes. The city isn’t just perfect for those seeking vitamin D and relaxation — there are almost 2,000 (1,889) outdoor activities to enjoy if you’re the adventurous type. The benefits of being outdoors offset the cost of a gym membership, which runs to about €66.05 per month. If you love the heat, this is the place for you.
Hours of sunshine: 3,509
Monthly gym membership cost: €66.05
Happiness levels: 6.5 / 10
Number of outdoor activities: 1,889
3. Copenhagen, Denmark
Known as one of the happiest cities in the world — ranking second in our study, just behind Helsinki — the Danish capital has climbed two places since our 2021 Healthy Cities report, now sitting in third. Copenhagen boasts the second lowest average hours worked per year, after Frankfurt and Berlin, at just 1,346 hours annually (25.8 per week). Breathing clean air is easy in Copenhagen, which has the fifth lowest pollution index of all the cities analysed, making it an ideal spot for outdoor exercise.
Hours of sunshine: 1,912
Population obesity score: 21.96 / 100
Happiness levels: 7.5 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,346
4. Frankfurt, Germany
When it comes to hours worked per year, Frankfurt tops the ranking for best work-life balance at just 1,332 hours — an average of around 25 hours per week. The benefits of a shorter working week are reflected in Frankfurt’s happiness score: 7.3 out of 10.
Daily sunshine hours: 1,662
Monthly gym membership cost: €42.20
Happiness levels: 7.3 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,332
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Dutch capital makes the top 5 for healthy living, despite dropping from first to fifth since our 2021 report. While Amsterdam has slipped in the overall ranking, it holds a more than respectable fifth place on the happiness index (7.5 out of 10). It also ranks sixth for the lowest obesity levels in Europe, with only 20.4% of the population overweight — lower only than Geneva, Zurich and Milan. With a life expectancy of almost 82 years, Amsterdam is another outstanding city for a healthy, happy life.
Hours of sunshine: 1,662
Obesity levels: 20.4%
Happiness levels: 7.5 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,399
6. Helsinki, Finland
The happiest city of all, Helsinki also has the lowest pollution levels, scoring just 13.2 out of 100. The Finnish capital also ranks fourth for the fewest takeaway restaurants, meaning its residents have fewer opportunities to reach for unhealthy food.
The happiest people, the cleanest air and limited access to unhealthy food makes Helsinki’s sixth place finish well deserved.
Hours of sunshine: 1,858
Monthly gym membership cost: €41.53
Happiness levels: 7.9 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,531
7. Berlin, Germany
Another city bursting with culture, Berlin has a life expectancy of 81.1 years, slightly higher than in recent years (previously 80.6 years). The German capital has also seen the cost of healthy living fall: a monthly gym membership now costs just €27.40, and a 1.5L bottle of water is €0.56, compared with €29.85 and €1.84 respectively in 2020. Beyond the affordability of a healthy lifestyle, Berlin ranks ninth for the lowest pollution levels in Europe.
Hours of sunshine: 1,626
Monthly gym membership cost: €27.40
Happiness levels: 7.3 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,332
8. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm comes in eighth on our list of healthy living cities. While the cost of living is high — a monthly gym membership costs €43.67 and a 1.5L bottle of water €1.51 — the Swedish capital ranks seventh for low obesity levels and has an average life expectancy of 82 years. With mental health now more of a priority than ever, Stockholm sits sixth in the happiness rankings at 7.3 out of 10.
Hours of sunshine: 1,803
Monthly gym membership cost: €43.67
Happiness levels: 7.3 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,424
9. Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka, the second non-European city in our top 10, boasts the highest average life expectancy alongside Osaka and Tokyo: 84.9 years, up from 83.2 in 2020. Fukuoka is not only famous for its incredible food, but also for its contribution to healthy living. With very low obesity levels — just 4.3% of the population is overweight — it ranks as the second least obese city in the world. A bottle of water costs just €0.96, making a healthy lifestyle straightforward in this city on the northern coast of Japan’s Kyushu island.
Hours of sunshine: 1,840
Monthly gym membership cost: €61.43
Happiness levels: 6.1 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,598
10. Geneva, Switzerland
Rounding out the top 10 is Geneva. Known as a global hub for finance and diplomacy, Geneva ranks tenth for fewest hours worked annually (1,495) and third for happiness (7.3 out of 10).
On the other hand, Geneva is one of the more expensive cities, with a bottle of water costing €1.25 and an average monthly gym membership of €69.59, placing it eleventh on our list of cities with the most expensive gyms. That said, if you can afford the higher price tag, this picturesque city is a wonderful place for a healthy, happy life.
Hours of sunshine: 1,830
Monthly gym membership cost: €69.59
Happiness levels: 7.5 / 10
Average hours worked per year: 1,495
The 10 Least Healthy Cities in the World
| Rank | City | Country |
| 1 | New York | United States |
| 2 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 3 | Johannesburg | South Africa |
| 4 | Moscow | Russia |
| 5 | Mexico City | Mexico |
| 6 | London | United Kingdom |
| 7 | Washington D.C. | United States |
| 8 | Shanghai | China |
| 9 | Chicago | United States |
| 10 | Boston | United States |
The United States dominates the bottom 10, with New York heading the list. While it ranks highly for hours of sunshine (averaging 2,535 per year), obesity levels in the US exceed 36% of the total population, and the average life expectancy is 77 years — almost 10 years below Japan’s average of 85.
When it comes to takeaway food, London tops the list with an overwhelming 6,925 restaurants — six times more than the healthiest city in the world, Vienna, and 25 times more than Beijing, which has the fewest.
Looking after every aspect of our health is important, from mental and physical wellbeing to our eye health. With these findings in mind, would you consider moving to one of these cities for a healthier life?
Methodology
We gathered data across 10 metrics for 48 cities around the world (listed below). Each metric was assigned a weighted score, which when combined gave each city an overall score from 1 to 10. This score was used to rank all 48 cities and determine which is best for healthy living.
Metrics:
- Obesity levels
- Life expectancy
- Hours of sunshine
- Air and water quality
- Happiness levels
- Cost of a bottle of water
- Average hours worked per year
- Outdoor activities
- Number of takeaway restaurants
- Monthly gym membership cost