HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED TO MAKE TO BE HAPPY IN ARIZONA? A LOT, ACCORDING TO THIS STUDY

Scottsdale was ranked as the 10th happiest city in the U.S. in a study earlier this year. Despite that, a more recent ranking says Arizona is the 25th happiest state.

Why are Arizona's happiness rankings so lackluster? A new study by GOBankingRates might provide an answer.

Analysts at GOBankingRates based their work on an influential 2018 article about the relationship between happiness and income around the world. The authors of that study found that in North America, an income of $105,000 was a turning point. After that, increases in income did not lead to increased satisfaction in life.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The GOBankingRates study adjusted that benchmark to each state based on their cost of living index. Here's what they found to be the base income it takes to be happy across the U.S.

Does living in Arizona make you happy? Maybe not, according to new study.

How much money does it take to be happy in Arizona?

According to the study, the minimum income required to be happy in Arizona is $115,500. That's bad news for most Arizonans, as the median household income in the state was $74,568 in 2022.

GOBankingRates calculated that number by multiplying $105,000 by 110% because the cost of living in Arizona is 10% higher than the national average. Arizona ranked 36th in the ranking, meaning only 14 states had a higher income threshold.

It costs the least to be happy in these 5 states

  1. West Virginia: $89, 460
  2. Mississippi: $91,035
  3. Oklahoma: $91,140
  4. Kansas: $91,770
  5. Alabama: $92,610

It costs the most to be happy in these 5 states

  1. Alaska: $132,720
  2. New York: $132,825
  3. California: $143,220
  4. Massachusetts: $155,400
  5. Hawaii: $188,160

Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @Reialirui on X, formerly Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How much money do you need to make to be happy in Arizona? A lot, according to this study

2024-09-17T13:09:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd