The United Kingdom has been named the worst country in Europe for commuting, tied with Greece, according to a new report by cross-border e-commerce platform Ubuy. The ranking – based on commuting costs, travel times, paid leave, working hours and national happiness – places the UK bottom of a 34-country index.
The UK scored 107 out of a possible 136 points, where a lower score indicates a better commuting experience. The report highlights soaring costs, long travel times, limited paid time off and declining wellbeing as the key factors behind the UK’s poor performance.
UK commuters face the third-highest average monthly commuting cost in Europe at £67.21, only slightly behind Luxembourg and Switzerland. The study suggests that, with train fares and fuel prices rising, many British workers are spending more getting to work than some Europeans do on holidays.
The average UK commute clocks in at 40 minutes – one of the longest in Europe – and full-time workers only receive 20 days of statutory paid annual leave (excluding bank holidays), among the lowest in the ranking.
The UK also fares poorly on overall wellbeing, with a national happiness score of 6.75 out of 10, placing it well behind top-ranking nations like Finland and Estonia. The combination of high commuting costs, long working weeks, and limited rest time is creating a recipe for burnout, the report warns.
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