The Minimum Salary You Need To Be Happy in the Biggest Cities

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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.”

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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

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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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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

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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

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