Top 10 US Cities Where Happiness Requires an Exceptionally Large Paycheck
Money may not guarantee happiness, but research suggests it can make a difference — up to a point. A Purdue University study found that income gains are tied to higher feelings of well-being until an “income satiation” threshold, after which more money may not meaningfully improve life satisfaction.
A new Remitly analysis adjusted that idea for inflation and local purchasing power, finding that, in the U.S., happiness appears to level off at an estimated $134,827 per year for an individual. However, in the country’s most expensive cities, that number climbs much higher.
Find Out: Best Cities for Jobs, Weather and Cost of Living—ChatGPT's Picks
Learn More: 9 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)
In places where housing, transportation and everyday costs take a bigger bite out of income, the estimated “price of happiness” can top $160,000 a year. Here are the 10 U.S. cities where residents need the highest incomes to reach the happiness threshold.
1. New York
Annual income needed to be happy: $195,969
2. Honolulu
Annual income needed to be happy: $192,441
3. San Francisco
Annual income needed to be happy: $191,266
4. Seattle
Annual income needed to be happy: $176,960
5. Washington
Annual income needed to be happy: $171,081
6. San Jose, California
Annual income needed to be happy: $169,317
7. Boston
Annual income needed to be happy: $168,925
8. Oakland, California
Annual income needed to be happy: $166,925
9. Berkeley, California
Annual income needed to be happy: $163,634
10. San Diego
Annual income needed to be happy: $160,694
These figures don't mean everyone in these cities needs to earn six figures to live a meaningful life, but they do show how dramatically location can affect the income associated with financial comfort and life satisfaction.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: