Years ago I saw some studies that said you needed to make $70k USD per year in order to be happy. That much money beyond that didn’t help make people happier. I didn’t actually read the study because it confirmed my biases and why would I want the detail. I think that’s why the idea has spread. The problem with this over simplification is that the cost of living varies a lot around the world.

There’s an annual study about how much money you need to be happy in each country. Again, I couldn’t find the study, but that doesn’t matter because it feels right. ;-D

Most of this map seems to make sense, although I wonder in the case of Iran if they’re getting numbers distorted by sanctions and international exchange rates. Anyway, I thought folks would find the map interesting. Is it true where you are? The Aotearoa New Zealand numbers feel about right to me. It’s expensive here, although folks making under $110k USD per year are much better off than similar people in the US because you get healthcare, better social services, education, mandated vacation, etc…