How much money does it take before earning more no longer makes people happier? Researchers call this threshold the satiation point, and it varies considerably across the United States.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Niccolo Conte, ranks 50 of the most populous U.S. cities by the annual income at which self-reported life evaluation stops improving, using data from Remitly.

Remitly adapted Purdue University‘s income satiation research by adjusting it for purchasing power and inflation, then scaling the U.S. figure to each metro using Numbeo’s cost-of-living index.

Coastal U.S. Cities Have the Highest Price of Happiness

Nationally, happiness levels off at an estimated annual income of $134,827. In New York City, the threshold rises to $195,969, or 45.3% above the national figure.

New York is followed by Honolulu ($192,441) and San Francisco ($191,266). In all three cities, the estimated income threshold exceeds $190,000 a year.

The table below shows the price of happiness in each of the 50 cities and how each compares with the $134,827 U.S. average:

Rank
City
State
Price of Happiness
vs. U.S. Average
1
New York
NY
$195,969
+45.3%
2
Honolulu
HI
$192,441
+42.7%
3
San Francisco
CA
$191,266
+41.9%
4
Seattle
WA
$176,960
+31.2%
5
Washington
DC
$171,081
+26.9%
6
San Jose
CA
$169,317
+25.6%
7
Boston
MA
$168,925
+25.3%
8
Oakland
CA
$166,965
+23.8%
9
Berkeley
CA
$163,634
+21.4%
10
San Diego
CA
$160,694
+19.2%
11
Anchorage
AK
$159,715
+18.5%
11
Los Angeles
CA
$159,715
+18.5%
13
Miami
FL
$155,795
+15.6%
14
Sacramento
CA
$155,207
+15.1%
15
Philadelphia
PA
$154,423
+14.5%
16
New Orleans
LA
$150,092
+11.3%
17
Jersey City
NJ
$149,328
+10.8%
18
Chicago
IL
$148,936
+10.5%
19
Atlanta
GA
$147,565
+9.4%
20
Portland
OR
$147,369
+9.3%
21
Denver
CO
$147,173
+9.2%
22
Dallas
TX
$142,861
+6.0%
23
Baltimore
MD
$140,706
+4.4%
24
Phoenix
AZ
$140,314
+4.1%
25
Buffalo
NY
$140,118
+3.9%
25
Minneapolis
MN
$140,118
+3.9%
27
Nashville
TN
$137,766
+2.2%
28
Pittsburgh
PA
$137,570
+2.0%
29
Tampa
FL
$137,178
+1.7%
30
Charlotte
NC
$136,786
+1.5%
31
Columbus
OH
$136,002
+0.9%
32
Richmond
VA
$135,218
+0.3%
32
Orlando
FL
$135,218
+0.3%
32
Indianapolis
IN
$135,218
+0.3%
32
Madison
WI
$135,218
+0.3%
36
Raleigh
NC
$132,867
-1.5%
37
Oklahoma City
OK
$132,279
-1.9%
38
Fort Worth
TX
$131,103
-2.8%
39
Salt Lake City
UT
$130,711
-3.1%
39
Boise
ID
$130,711
-3.1%
41
Austin
TX
$130,123
-3.5%
42
Milwaukee
WI
$128,751
-4.5%
43
Cleveland
OH
$127,772
-5.2%
44
Knoxville
TN
$127,184
-5.7%
45
Jacksonville
FL
$126,400
-6.3%
46
Tucson
AZ
$125,420
-7.0%
47
Houston
TX
$125,224
-7.1%
48
Albuquerque
NM
$123,852
-8.1%
49
San Antonio
TX
$123,656
-8.3%
50
Cincinnati
OH
$122,480
-9.2%

The upper end of the ranking is dominated by coastal cities. California alone claims five of the top 10 spots: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Diego. Seattle ($176,960), Washington, D.C. ($171,081), and Boston ($168,925) also rank among the most expensive cities.

Overall, 35 of the 50 cities have income thresholds above the national figure, partly reflecting the higher living costs found in many of America’s largest metropolitan areas.

Where Happiness Costs the Least in America

Cincinnati has the lowest estimated price of happiness in the ranking at $122,480, or 37.5% less than New York. Put another way, reaching income satiation in New York requires about 1.6 times as much income as it does in Cincinnati.

Texas is the most heavily represented state near the affordable end of the ranking. Austin ($130,123), Houston ($125,224), and San Antonio ($123,656) all place in the bottom 10, alongside Albuquerque, Tucson, and Jacksonville. Dallas is the only Texas city in the upper half, ranking 22nd.

The pattern closely tracks broader cost-of-living differences between U.S. metros, which also shape the income needed to live comfortably in U.S. cities. Where housing and everyday expenses are lower, the estimated income required to reach the plateau falls as well.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Money Can Buy Happiness After All on Voronoi.