In order to be happy in Washington, D.C., one needs to earn an annual salary of $182,595, according to a new survey conducted by Purdue University, FOX 5 DC reported on Tuesday.
The study released by GoBankingRates.com assessed 50 of the major cities in the country as to how much money residents would need to make to be happy.
Another finding of the survey is that making between $104,340 and $130,425 every year is necessary for the emotional well-being of a person living in the District.
“Emotional well-being” was evaluated by people’s daily emotions not being affected by money in terms of changing their well-being level.
“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,” Andrew Jebb, a doctoral student and the lead author of the study, was quoted as saying in a press release.
As for people living in Los Angeles, the minimum yearly income to be happy is $204,855, while the figure is $219,765 in New York City and $319,935 in San Francisco. The ideal income for life satisfaction in North America is $105,000.
The Purdue researchers also concluded, on a global scale, that individuals would need an income of $60,000-$75,000 for emotional well-being and an income of $95,000 for life evaluation.