Canberra Ranked World’s Third Most Relaxing City to Live In for 2026
Umesh Dhakal
KNA- Canberra
Canberra has been ranked the world’s third most relaxing city to live in for 2026, according to a new global study, further reinforcing the Australian capital’s reputation for high liveability.
The ranking comes from an international study conducted by Remitly, which analysed 170 major cities worldwide using an overall “stress score”. The assessment considered factors including crime rates, healthcare quality, cost of living, travel times, and pollution levels.
The study placed Canberra third among the least stressed cities globally, behind only Eindhoven and Utrecht in the Netherlands, and ahead of cities across Europe, the United States, and other regions.
Canberra performed strongly due to its low pollution levels, which were among the lowest recorded in the global top ten, and its well-planned urban layout that allows residents to move easily between natural spaces, cultural institutions, and dining precincts.
Travel efficiency was also identified as a key advantage. The study found that travelling 10 kilometres in Canberra takes just over 15 minutes, compared with more than 30 minutes in major cities such as New York.
With extensive nature reserves, nationally significant galleries and museums, and cool-climate wine regions located within a short driving distance, Canberra continues to attract attention as both a highly liveable city and an appealing destination for visitors.
The findings add to a growing body of international research recognising Canberra’s balance of lifestyle, accessibility, and environmental quality.
Here’s the data from the 2026 Remitly global study on the most relaxing (least stressful) cities to live in, based on a stress score that combines key quality-of-life factors including commute times, cost of living, healthcare quality, crime levels and pollution:
🌍 2026 Most Relaxing Cities to Live In (Top 10, Remitly Study)
| Rank | City | Stress Score (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eindhoven, Netherlands | 2.34 (lowest stress) (Remitly) |
| 2 | Utrecht, Netherlands | 2.67 (Remitly) |
| 3 | Canberra, Australia | 2.80 (Remitly) |
| 4 | Tallinn, Estonia | ~2.83 (Porto Secreto) |
| 5 | Groningen, Netherlands | 2.84 (Porto Secreto) |
| =5 | Trondheim, Norway | 2.84 (Porto Secreto) |
| 7 | Bergen, Norway | 2.85 (Porto Secreto) |
| 8 | Porto, Portugal | 2.97 (Porto Secreto) |
| 9 | Brisbane, Australia | 2.98 (Time Out Worldwide) |
| 10 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 3.34 (Porto Secreto) |
Source : https://www.remitly.com/
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