Three Spanish cities, among the 25 best places for a good work-life balance

Achieving a good balance between health, life, and work may seem difficult for many, but according to the 2023 Forbes Advisor list, there are cities worldwide where it can be achieved. The list, usually led by Nordic capitals such as Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm and Oslo, features three Spanish cities in the top 25. They are Madrid (21), Barcelona (23) and Valencia (24).

In the cities analysed, companies offer their employees the chance to achieve a good work-life balance through health care, responsible holiday time and no overtime.

The list compares data from 128 cities, compiling a work-life balance index scored out of 100. The higher the score, the better the work-life balance of workers in a city.

Europe tops the list

Twenty of the 25 cities with the best work-life balance are in Europe. The diverse range of cultures and lifestyles in these cities offer residents a great work-life balance.

Copenhagen, Denmark’s high standard of living, low unemployment rate, 52-week maternity leave and a focus on sustainability and green spaces contribute to the city’s top score of 70.5 points. It also helps that the Danish lifestyle focuses on taking time for self-care and relaxation.

Healthy lifestyles coupled with generous holiday and parental leave policies also placed the European cities of Helsinki, Stockholm and Oslo in the top five on this list. The average working week of employees in these cities falls below 30 hours. The proportion of remote jobs in Helsinki, Finland, is over 50%.

Many companies in Europe prioritise employee well-being, which has led to the rise of a well-being culture. This culture includes practices such as remote working and mental health support.

The first city outside Europe is Auckland in New Zealand, which has an average working week of 26.3 hours and one-year parental leave. Alongside the largest city in the Land of the White Cloud, Brisbane (53.3), Melbourne (53.1) and Sydney (51.4) in Australia have an average working week of 32.4 hours to 38 hours.

Filed under: Headlines by Wendy Jackson
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