Coastal U.S. Cities Have the Highest Price of HappinessNationally, 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. 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. Put another way, reaching income satiation in New York requires about 1.6 times as much income as it does in Cincinnati. 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.