City driving with frequent stopping does wear pads faster than highway use but how much faster depends more on braking style than the environment itself. Someone who brakes early and gently in traffic uses pads more slowly than someone who leaves it late and brakes harder even if the mileage is identical. The good news is that city driving rarely generates the sustained heat that causes rotor damage so catching wear at the squeak stage usually means pads only without needing disc replacement alongside them.