Best Cities for Working Less and Earning More

We power the world’s most productive economy, but are US workers some of the weariest? A fifth of private employers still don’t offer their employees paid vacation time, and we’re the only developed nation with no legal entitlement to it.

And, while wage growth is flat, we’re apparently busier than ever. 62% of American office workers now say they usually eat their lunch in the same spot they work all day. If that sounds like you, do yourself a favor and don’t read the next part (especially if you’re eating) - scoffing down lunch at your desk can expose you to more bad bacteria than a toilet seat.

There has to be a better way for millennial workers to make a living. Aren’t the French known for taking long lunch breaks and lots of time off? Could moving abroad be the key to earning more while working less?

Inspired by this hunch (and a generous helping of population and wage data, courtesy of Deutsche Bank and UBS), we researched the cities that offer young workers great pay, amazing hours and ample annual leave. You might be surprised by who came out on top.

The Top Ten

While Paris performs well, it's actually another French-speaking locale that tops our rankings. Luxembourg, the pint-sized city state that gives all its citizens universal free healthcare, treats workers especially well. The average employee earns $4,491.50 per month for just 142 hours worked. That translates to an hourly wage of roughly $31.63.

With an enviable 32 days of paid leave per year, Luxembourgians have plenty of disposable income and free time to play with. It’s no surprise they regularly score well in the World Happiness Index.

Munich and Paris round out the top three, with both European cities offering an exceptional work-life balance for ambitious earners. All of the top ten cities are in Europe, which speaks to the widespread continental culture of high salaries and short working weeks.

US cities don’t fare too well though, with New York emerging as the only US city in the top 25. Big Apple employees were paid more generously than most, with an average monthly salary behind only Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland. However, high numbers of hours worked bring the city’s overall ranking down to 13th.

The Bottom Ten

At the other end of the spectrum sits Jakarta. The Indonesian capital ranks bottom overall, and fourth from bottom for salary, with an average monthly wage of just $548. 12 days paid vacation isn’t the worst by any stretch - that distinction goes to the three days paid leave in Sao Paolo - but it’s not outstanding. Young adults across Asia have little to be happy about in general, with five of the bottom ten cities ranking poorly for pay, holiday time and hours worked.

Check out the full rankings below to see if your city made the cut. And the next time you find yourself in the office at 9pm with a lap full of spreadsheets and sandwich crumbs, remember that you can always ditch the rat race and buy a one way ticket to Luxembourg.