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.
Meanwhile, Greece – also scoring 107 points – shares similar problems. With average working hours of 39.8 per week and a lower happiness score of 5.93, Greece joins the UK in the bottom spot.
Cyprus, Italy and France complete the bottom five. While known for their warmer climates, these countries scored poorly due to high parking and commuting costs, and limited flexibility around working hours and breaks.
In contrast, Estonia topped the leaderboard with a score of 64 points, thanks to low commuting costs, cheap lunches, and a solid work-life balance. Finland and Lithuania tied for second place (68 points), followed by Sweden and Romania in third (74 points), praised for their affordability and emphasis on employee wellbeing.
“This ranking should serve as a wake-up call,” said Faizan Khan, spokesperson for Ubuy. “With more people returning to the office post-pandemic, the cost, time and stress of commuting are once again central to how employees feel about work. Countries like Estonia show that affordable transport and balanced working hours are possible – the UK has some catching up to do.”
The study follows renewed discussions around hybrid work, flexible hours and transport reform in the UK. With inflation and interest rates continuing to impact household finances, advocates are urging the government to reassess commuting policies and workplace expectations to ease the burden on workers.
As commuting once again becomes a daily reality for millions of Brits, this ranking underscores the importance of not just where people work – but how they get there.
