With skyrocketing rents and stagnant salaries, living alone in the city often feels like a real-life obstacle course. In big metropolitan areas, paying for an apartment on a single income becomes a true headache. The result? Financial stress, compromises on comfort, forced roommate situations... and sometimes even moving back in with parents. Not exactly glamorous.
To measure this reality, the magazine The Economist created the “Carrie Bradshaw Index.” The name is inspired by the heroine from Sex and the City, brought to life by Carrie Bradshaw, famous for her ridiculously expensive New York apartment. The goal: to compare average incomes with housing costs to see if a single person can make ends meet without losing their mind.
her PEL.Lyon, a top European city
Out of 28 cities analyzed, only 8 are really considered accessible for solo travelers, and Lyon ranks very well. According to a study by The Economist, the capital of the Gauls takes the second place. It ranks just behind Bonn and ahead of Bern, Brussels, Helsinki, Vienna, Luxembourg, and Berlin.
In contrast, some major cities have become almost unbearable for solo travelers.
singles. In cities where the score is below 1, rent greatly exceeds the recommended 30% of income. That's the case in London, Prague, Geneva, Stockholm, or even Lisbon. It's safe to say that living alone there feels more like a sacrifice than a comfort.A ranking to put into perspective
This index remains an indicator, not an absolute truth. It is based on averages and does not take into account the overall cost of living, transportation, food, or leisure. In other words:Being "well-off" doesn't guarantee an easy life. The report also highlights a worrying trend: living alone in a big city gets a little bit more complicated each year.
Source : Time Out