New Study Highlights The Best Cities To Live In For A Healthy And Happy Life

It can be hard to ensure you’re doing everything right when it comes to fostering well being and happiness—but have you ever noticed that maintaining mindfulness and healthy habits can sometimes be easier in the warmer months—or when traveling abroad?

A recent study out of the United Kingdom has confirmed the impact of five major lifestyle factors—including smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, body weight, and diet—can have on a healthy and happy life and exactly where on earth it’s the easiest to achieve a happy lifestyle that helps increase life expectancy and decrease chronic illness.

The study analyzed 44 global cities across 10 metrics ranging, from sunshine hours to the average cost of a gym membership. Below, the top cities that have been ranked the highest based on the levels of happiness and health of its citizens. 

Geneva, Switzerland

• Sunshine Hours: 1,830
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $80.23
• Happiness levels: 7.5 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,495

 Fukuoka, Japan

• Sunshine Hours: 1,840
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $70.83
• Happiness levels: 6.1 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,598

Stockholm, Sweden

• Sunshine Hours: 1,803
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $50.36
• Happiness levels: 7.3 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,424

 Berlin, Germany

• Sunshine Hours: 1,626
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $32.89
• Happiness levels: 7.3 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,332

 Helsinki, Finland

• Sunshine Hours: 1,858
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $47.97
• Happiness levels: 7.9 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,531

 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

• Sunshine Hours: 1,662
• Obesity levels: 20.4%
• Happiness levels: 7.5 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,399

 Frankfurt, Germany

• Sunshine Hours: 1,662
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $48.66
• Happiness levels: 7.3 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,332

 Copenhagen, Denmark

• Sunshine hours: 1,912
• Pollution score: 21.96 / 100
• Happiness levels: 7.5 / 10
• Average hours worked in one year: 1,346

 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Sunshine Hours: 3,509
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $76.16
• Happiness levels: 6.5 / 10
• No. of outdoor activities: 1,889 

 Vienna, Austria

• Sunshine Hours: 1,884
• Cost of a monthly gym membership: $31.02
• Happiness levels: 7.2 / 10
• Avg. hours worked in a year: 1,400