Are Big Cities Really Worth It for Your Health and Happiness?
Many people feel drawn to the excitement and opportunities provided by large global cities. However, after living in a major metropolis for several years, I have begun to question whether these environments are truly sustainable or healthy for long-term living.
One of the biggest issues with large cities is the constant exposure to pollution. Between vehicle emissions, industrial byproducts, and high population density, air quality tends to be poor. This over time can seriously impact respiratory and cardiovascular health.
Cities also often struggle with traffic congestion. Spending lengthy periods of time each day stuck in traffic jams adds significant stress levels.
The cost of living in major cities has also become prohibitively expensive for many. Rent in cities like Toronto, New York City, San Francisco, and London exceeds USD$2,500-4,000+ per month or more for a one-bedroom apartment. Trying to afford these astronomical housing costs while also having money left over for savings, investments, other necessities and leisure can be incredibly stressful. Many residents end up spending over 50% of their income just on rent.
Moreover, in massive cities everything tends to be so spread out. Important locations like friends, family, work, stores and activities are commonly 10+ kilometers or more from home (and often much farther). This means long commute times of an hour each way or longer during heavy traffic periods. Such a strained daily schedule leaves little room for a balanced lifestyle. To cope, many residents resort to eating convenience foods on the go, further exacerbating health issues like obesity and diabetes over the long-run.
The top factors that contribute to happiness are reducing stress, building community, and prioritizing long-term health. Yet big city living is often the antithesis of this. High housing costs, traffic, poor air quality, and endless commutes are major sources of stress. Limited free time also makes it hard to nurture strong community ties.
Historically, the highest paying jobs have been located exclusively in major cities. However, increasingly entrepreneurs are able to launch businesses online and professionals can advance their careers remotely. This opens up new opportunities for those in mid-career to take advantage of the wellness, lifestyle and community benefits of a mid-sized city, alongside a significantly lower cost of living, while still benefitting from higher income levels.
Instead, I have found mid-sized cities to offer a better quality of life (particularly under the European model). Places with populations around 100,000-500,000 can still provide many urban amenities and infrastructure. However, they maintain a more human scale where most daily needs are easily accessible near to home.
One of my favorite examples is Florence, Italy. Living in the historic neighborhoods surrounding the Arno River, everything is conveniently within a 1-2 km walk or bike ride - groceries, cafes, gyms, green spaces, top-rated restaurants. The compact central train station also connects to major airports and nearby cities like Milan and Rome within 90 minutes or less.
In conclusion, giant metropolises may offer career opportunities and cultural attractions. They are a great place to “launch a career”, quickly build a high quality network and cram in a lot of new experiences and attractions in one place for a period of time.
But for sustaining wellness over the long-run, a mid-sized city provides a more livable balance by reducing stress, encouraging activity, and prioritizing community connections over endless commutes. Healthier living starts with choosing an environment suited to a balanced lifestyle.