The Minimum Salary You Need To Be Happy in the Biggest Cities
Achieving happiness might require less money than you think.
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Can money truly buy happiness? Turns out that it certainly can, according to a Purdue University study, which examined how much money people need to be happy and whether or not happiness rises as one’s income level increases. But there’s a catch.
The study argued that the optimal amount of money it takes to be happy varies worldwide. “That might be surprising as what we see on TV and what advertisers tell us we need would indicate that there is no ceiling when it comes to how much money is needed for happiness, but we now see there are some thresholds,” said Andrew T. Jebb, a doctoral student and the lead author of the Purdue University study, in a press release.
The research specifically sought to pinpoint the amount where money no longer changes your level of emotional well-being and “life evaluation.” Emotional well-being was measured according to a person’s day-to-day emotions, including happy, excited, sad and angry. Life evaluation was defined in terms of overall life satisfaction and was “likely more influenced by higher goals and comparisons to others.”
Using the Purdue study’s findings, GOBankingRates predicted how much money you would need to make to be happy in 50 of the biggest cities in America. The Purdue researchers determined that, globally, individuals would need an income of $60,000-$75,000 for emotional well-being and an income of $95,000 for life evaluation. The ideal income for life satisfaction in North America is $105,000, which was used as a benchmark for the “salary needed to be happy” category listed in this study.
Last updated: Nov. 8, 2019
Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Salary you need to be happy: $103,215
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $93,385
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $58,980-$73,725
Arlington, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $114,345
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $103,455
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $65,340-$81,675
Atlanta
- Salary you need to be happy: $121,170
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $109,630
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $69,240-$86,550
Austin, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $136,500
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $123,500
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $78,000-$97,500
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Boston
- Salary you need to be happy: $190,680
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $172,520
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $108,960-$136,200
Charlotte, North Carolina
- Salary you need to be happy: $112,035
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $101,365
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,020-$80,025
Chicago
- Salary you need to be happy: $123,690
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $111,910
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $70,680-$88,350
Cleveland
- Salary you need to be happy: $80,955
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $73,245
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $46,260-$57,825
Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Salary you need to be happy: $118,545
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $107,255
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $67,740-$84,675
Columbus, Ohio
- Salary you need to be happy: $94,920
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $85,880
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $54,240-$67,800
Dallas
- Salary you need to be happy: $113,085
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $102,315
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,620-$80,775
Denver
- Salary you need to be happy: $151,410
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $136,990
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $86,520-$108,150
El Paso, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $91,560
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $82,840
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $52,320-$65,400
Fort Worth, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $112,665
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $101,935
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,380-$80,475
Fresno, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $113,190
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $102,410
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,680-$80,850
Honolulu
- Salary you need to be happy: $211,155
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $191,045
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $120,660-$150,825
Houston
- Salary you need to be happy: $110,040
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $99,560
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $62,880-$78,600
Indianapolis
- Salary you need to be happy: $92,295
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $83,505
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $52,740-$65,925
Jacksonville, Florida
- Salary you need to be happy: $104,475
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $94,525
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $59,700-$74,625
Kansas City, Missouri
- Salary you need to be happy: $96,495
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $87,305
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $55,140-$68,925
Las Vegas
- Salary you need to be happy: $126,105
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $114,095
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $72,060-$90,075
Long Beach, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $188,055
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $170,145
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $107,460-$134,325
Los Angeles
- Salary you need to be happy: $204,855
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $185,345
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $117,060-$146,325
Louisville, Kentucky
- Salary you need to be happy: $101,115
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $91,485
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $57,780-$72,225
Memphis, Tennessee
- Salary you need to be happy: $88,515
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $80,085
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $50,580-$63,225
Mesa, Arizona
- Salary you need to be happy: $119,280
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $107,920
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $68,160-$85,200
Miami
- Salary you need to be happy: $143,955
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $130,245
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $82,260-$102,825
Milwaukee
- Salary you need to be happy: $94,500
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $85,500
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $54,000-$67,500
Minneapolis
- Salary you need to be happy: $122,220
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $110,580
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $69,840-$87,300
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Nashville, Tennessee
- Salary you need to be happy: $115,920
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $104,880
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $66,240-$82,800
New Orleans
- Salary you need to be happy: $112,875
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $102,125
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,500-$80,625
New York
- Salary you need to be happy: $219,765
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $198,835
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $125,580-$156,975
Oakland, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $211,260
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $191,140
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $120,720-$150,900
Oklahoma City
- Salary you need to be happy: $96,075
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $86,925
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $54,900-$68,625
Omaha, Nebraska
- Salary you need to be happy: $99,645
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $90,155
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $56,940-$71,175
Orlando, Florida
- Salary you need to be happy: $118,020
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $106,780
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $67,440-$84,300
Philadelphia
- Salary you need to be happy: $116,340
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $105,260
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $66,480-$83,100
Phoenix
- Salary you need to be happy: $119,070
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $107,730
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $68,040-$85,050
Portland, Oregon
- Salary you need to be happy: $155,190
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $140,410
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $88,680-$110,850
Raleigh, North Carolina
- Salary you need to be happy: $116,550
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $105,450
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $66,600-$83,250
Sacramento, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $133,875
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $121,125
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $76,500-$95,625
San Antonio
- Salary you need to be happy: $101,535
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $91,865
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $58,020-$72,525
San Diego
- Salary you need to be happy: $186,375
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $168,625
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $106,500-$133,125
San Francisco
- Salary you need to be happy: $319,935
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $289,465
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $182,820-$228,525
San Jose, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $273,000
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $247,000
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $156,000-$195,000
Seattle
- Salary you need to be happy: $214,200
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $193,800
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $122,400-$153,000
Tucson, Arizona
- Salary you need to be happy: $104,370
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $94,430
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $59,640-$74,550
Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Salary you need to be happy: $94,080
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $85,120
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $53,760-$67,200
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Salary you need to be happy: $121,380
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $109,820
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $69,360-$86,700
Washington, D.C.
- Salary you need to be happy: $182,595
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $165,205
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $104,340-$130,425
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Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the cost-of-living-adjusted minimum salary needed to be “happy” based on various income satiation levels, identified by Purdue University researchers. Global income satiation levels are as follows: $60,000-$75,000 for “emotional well-being” and $95,000 for “life evaluation.” In North America, the income satiation level is $105,000 for life evaluation, according to Purdue, and this benchmark was used to determine the “salary you need to be happy” in the study. GOBankingRates factored in each city’s cost-of-living index, sourced from Sperling’s Best Places. Research was conducted and is accurate as of Oct. 24, 2019.
View All
Can money truly buy happiness? Turns out that it certainly can, according to a Purdue University study, which examined how much money people need to be happy and whether or not happiness rises as one’s income level increases. But there’s a catch.
The study argued that the optimal amount of money it takes to be happy varies worldwide. “That might be surprising as what we see on TV and what advertisers tell us we need would indicate that there is no ceiling when it comes to how much money is needed for happiness, but we now see there are some thresholds,” said Andrew T. Jebb, a doctoral student and the lead author of the Purdue University study, in a press release.
The research specifically sought to pinpoint the amount where money no longer changes your level of emotional well-being and “life evaluation.” Emotional well-being was measured according to a person’s day-to-day emotions, including happy, excited, sad and angry. Life evaluation was defined in terms of overall life satisfaction and was “likely more influenced by higher goals and comparisons to others.”
Using the Purdue study’s findings, GOBankingRates predicted how much money you would need to make to be happy in 50 of the biggest cities in America. The Purdue researchers determined that, globally, individuals would need an income of $60,000-$75,000 for emotional well-being and an income of $95,000 for life evaluation. The ideal income for life satisfaction in North America is $105,000, which was used as a benchmark for the “salary needed to be happy” category listed in this study.
Last updated: Nov. 8, 2019
1. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Salary you need to be happy: $103,215
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $93,385
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $58,980-$73,725
2. Arlington, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $114,345
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $103,455
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $65,340-$81,675
3. Atlanta
- Salary you need to be happy: $121,170
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $109,630
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $69,240-$86,550
4. Austin, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $136,500
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $123,500
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $78,000-$97,500
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5. Boston
- Salary you need to be happy: $190,680
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $172,520
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $108,960-$136,200
6. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Salary you need to be happy: $112,035
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $101,365
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,020-$80,025
7. Chicago
- Salary you need to be happy: $123,690
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $111,910
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $70,680-$88,350
8. Cleveland
- Salary you need to be happy: $80,955
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $73,245
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $46,260-$57,825
9. Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Salary you need to be happy: $118,545
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $107,255
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $67,740-$84,675
10. Columbus, Ohio
- Salary you need to be happy: $94,920
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $85,880
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $54,240-$67,800
11. Dallas
- Salary you need to be happy: $113,085
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $102,315
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,620-$80,775
12. Denver
- Salary you need to be happy: $151,410
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $136,990
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $86,520-$108,150
13. El Paso, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $91,560
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $82,840
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $52,320-$65,400
14. Fort Worth, Texas
- Salary you need to be happy: $112,665
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $101,935
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,380-$80,475
15. Fresno, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $113,190
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $102,410
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,680-$80,850
16. Honolulu
- Salary you need to be happy: $211,155
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $191,045
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $120,660-$150,825
17. Houston
- Salary you need to be happy: $110,040
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $99,560
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $62,880-$78,600
18. Indianapolis
- Salary you need to be happy: $92,295
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $83,505
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $52,740-$65,925
19. Jacksonville, Florida
- Salary you need to be happy: $104,475
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $94,525
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $59,700-$74,625
20. Kansas City, Missouri
- Salary you need to be happy: $96,495
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $87,305
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $55,140-$68,925
21. Las Vegas
- Salary you need to be happy: $126,105
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $114,095
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $72,060-$90,075
22. Long Beach, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $188,055
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $170,145
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $107,460-$134,325
23. Los Angeles
- Salary you need to be happy: $204,855
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $185,345
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $117,060-$146,325
24. Louisville, Kentucky
- Salary you need to be happy: $101,115
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $91,485
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $57,780-$72,225
25. Memphis, Tennessee
- Salary you need to be happy: $88,515
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $80,085
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $50,580-$63,225
26. Mesa, Arizona
- Salary you need to be happy: $119,280
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $107,920
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $68,160-$85,200
27. Miami
- Salary you need to be happy: $143,955
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $130,245
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $82,260-$102,825
28. Milwaukee
- Salary you need to be happy: $94,500
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $85,500
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $54,000-$67,500
29. Minneapolis
- Salary you need to be happy: $122,220
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $110,580
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $69,840-$87,300
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30. Nashville, Tennessee
- Salary you need to be happy: $115,920
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $104,880
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $66,240-$82,800
31. New Orleans
- Salary you need to be happy: $112,875
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $102,125
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $64,500-$80,625
32. New York
- Salary you need to be happy: $219,765
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $198,835
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $125,580-$156,975
33. Oakland, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $211,260
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $191,140
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $120,720-$150,900
34. Oklahoma City
- Salary you need to be happy: $96,075
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $86,925
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $54,900-$68,625
35. Omaha, Nebraska
- Salary you need to be happy: $99,645
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $90,155
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $56,940-$71,175
36. Orlando, Florida
- Salary you need to be happy: $118,020
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $106,780
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $67,440-$84,300
37. Philadelphia
- Salary you need to be happy: $116,340
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $105,260
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $66,480-$83,100
38. Phoenix
- Salary you need to be happy: $119,070
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $107,730
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $68,040-$85,050
39. Portland, Oregon
- Salary you need to be happy: $155,190
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $140,410
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $88,680-$110,850
40. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Salary you need to be happy: $116,550
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $105,450
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $66,600-$83,250
41. Sacramento, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $133,875
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $121,125
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $76,500-$95,625
42. San Antonio
- Salary you need to be happy: $101,535
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $91,865
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $58,020-$72,525
43. San Diego
- Salary you need to be happy: $186,375
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $168,625
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $106,500-$133,125
44. San Francisco
- Salary you need to be happy: $319,935
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $289,465
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $182,820-$228,525
45. San Jose, California
- Salary you need to be happy: $273,000
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $247,000
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $156,000-$195,000
46. Seattle
- Salary you need to be happy: $214,200
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $193,800
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $122,400-$153,000
47. Tucson, Arizona
- Salary you need to be happy: $104,370
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $94,430
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $59,640-$74,550
48. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Salary you need to be happy: $94,080
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $85,120
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $53,760-$67,200
49. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Salary you need to be happy: $121,380
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $109,820
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $69,360-$86,700
50. Washington, D.C.
- Salary you need to be happy: $182,595
- Salary you need for life evaluation: $165,205
- Salary you need for emotional well-being: $104,340-$130,425
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- 16 Effective Ways To Trick Yourself Into Saving Money
Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the cost-of-living-adjusted minimum salary needed to be “happy” based on various income satiation levels, identified by Purdue University researchers. Global income satiation levels are as follows: $60,000-$75,000 for “emotional well-being” and $95,000 for “life evaluation.” In North America, the income satiation level is $105,000 for life evaluation, according to Purdue, and this benchmark was used to determine the “salary you need to be happy” in the study. GOBankingRates factored in each city’s cost-of-living index, sourced from Sperling’s Best Places. Research was conducted and is accurate as of Oct. 24, 2019.
