This study shows, for the first time, that city unhappiness is common across the world. We use the World Values Survey cumulative dataset 1981–2020 from www.worldvaluessurvey.org. In all developed countries, without exception, we find that city dwellers are not happier than rural residents. • Using the World Values Survey (WVS) cumulative dataset 1981-2020, we test the urban-rural happiness gradient hypothesis. • We find that in developed countries city dwellers are not happier than rural residents. • This finding contradicts a common belief, especially in economics (e.g., Glaeser, 2011), that cities are triumphant and happy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]