You might not be able to put a price on happiness but trying to achieve it can be expensive, especially depending on where you live.
S Money, an Australian-based money exchange service, ranked the most expensive cities to be happy in the U.S. based on data from a 2018 Purdue University study on the relationship between happiness and income to find the price of happiness in every city.
The researchers at S Money converted data from the study to compare the actual price of happiness in each city according to the cost of living value.
No. 1 most expensive city to be happy in the U.S.: Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara, California is the most expensive U.S. city to be happy. The cost of living in the city is 57% above the national average, according to the Economic Research Institute.
The price of happiness in Santa Barbara is $162,721, according to the S Money report.
Santa Barbara is also within the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara region, which was named one of the happiest places in the world based on The Blue Zones Index. It ranks the parts of the world where people regularly live longer than average.
The city is often described as "The American Riviera" because its climate is similar to areas along the northern Mediterranean Sea coast, according to the Santa Barbara website.
10 most expensive cities to be happy in the U.S.
- Santa Barbara, Calif.
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New York, N.Y.
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Seattle, Wash.
- Oakland, Calif.
- Anchorage, Alas.
- Sacramento, Calif.
- Boston, Mass.
- Irvine, Calif.
Honolulu, Hawaii, ranks as the second most expensive city in the U.S. to be happy in. The Hawaii capital, located on the island of Oahu, had an annual price of happiness of $148,943.
Money Report
According to a 2022 WalletHub study, Hawaii was also the happiest state in the U.S. based on several key metrics, including emotional and physical well-being.
Honolulu is one of the most visited cities in the U.S., according to the World Atlas, partly because it is home to the historical attraction of Pearl Harbor.
New York City rounds out the top three with an annual price of happiness at $145,028.
It's no secret that New York City is one of the most expensive cities to live in.
Manhattan alone has a cost of living that is 24% more than Honolulu's, the second-most expensive urban area in the U.S., according to data from The Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index.
New York City is considered a global marketplace because of its significant influence on finances, entertainment, and culture. It is home to Wall Street, Times Square, and the Empire State Building.
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