If it feels like you’re working non-stop just to stay afloat, you’re not alone—new research confirms that in many UK cities, long hours are the only way to afford a comfortable lifestyle.
A study by CVwizard has analysed the number of hours needed to cover essential expenses—such as rent, utilities, food, transport, and leisure—across 45 cities. The results highlight a stark imbalance in work-life dynamics, with some cities requiring significantly more work hours than others to maintain a basic standard of living.
Londoners: the hardest-working in the UK
Unsurprisingly, London tops the list as the city where residents must put in the longest hours to afford an average lifestyle. Workers in the capital need to clock in 2,394.51 hours annually—over 46 hours a week—just to make ends meet.
Despite having the highest median salary (£34,189.20), London’s soaring rent prices eat up 76.8% of working hours alone, leaving little financial breathing room.
Oxford follows closely behind, with its residents needing to work 2,139.71 hours a year (41.15 hours per week) to afford everyday living. While rent is lower than in London, higher utility costs add to the financial strain.
Manchester, Bristol, and Nottingham round out the top five, where working at least 39 hours per week is necessary for a reasonable standard of living.
Top 10 Cities Requiring the Most Work to Afford Life
London – 2,394.51 hours/year (46.05 hours/week)
Oxford – 2,139.71 hours/year (41.15 hours/week)
Manchester – 2,139.20 hours/year (41.14 hours/week)
Bristol – 2,135.02 hours/year (41.06 hours/week)
Nottingham – 2,033.14 hours/year (39.10 hours/week)
Birmingham – 2,017.97 hours/year (38.81 hours/week)
Norwich – 1,981.45 hours/year (38.10 hours/week)
Southampton – 1,978.35 hours/year (38.05 hours/week)
Glasgow – 1,945.63 hours/year (37.42 hours/week)
Newport – 1,920.54 hours/year (36.93 hours/week)
Best cities for work-life balance
On the flip side, Southend-on-Sea emerged as the best UK city for work-life balance. With a median net salary of £32,642.40, relatively low rent (£840.33 per month), and affordable utility and leisure costs, residents only need to work 1,364.24 hours a year—just 26.24 hours per week—to maintain an average lifestyle. Plus, living by the beach is a bonus.
Aberdeen, Mansfield, and Northampton also rank among the best cities for a healthier work-life balance, requiring around 30 hours per week or less.
Top 10 Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance
Southend-on-Sea – 1,364.24 hours/year (26.24 hours/week)
Aberdeen – 1,479.98 hours/year (28.46 hours/week)
Mansfield – 1,509.80 hours/year (29.03 hours/week)
Northampton – 1,562.30 hours/year (30.04 hours/week)
Bradford – 1,575.65 hours/year (30.30 hours/week)
Dudley – 1,591.29 hours/year (30.60 hours/week)
Sunderland – 1,597.22 hours/year (30.72 hours/week)
Kingston upon Hull – 1,614.13 hours/year (31.04 hours/week)
Stoke-on-Trent – 1,636.15 hours/year (31.46 hours/week)
Derby – 1,637.75 hours/year (31.50 hours/week)
The growing pushback against overwork
As the cost of living crisis deepens, so does resistance to long hours. A growing number of workers are rejecting the ‘hustle culture’ mentality, with 19% refusing to take on tasks beyond their job descriptions and 20% ignoring work messages outside contracted hours.
The push for a healthier work-life balance is gaining traction, and as wages stagnate while expenses rise, the demand for fairer working conditions is only likely to grow.
Would you relocate to a city with better work-life balance, or are you stuck grinding it out where you are? Photo by Tristan Surtel, Wikimedia commons.
