AMERICANS NEED $134,827 A YEAR TO BE HAPPY. HERE’S WHY.

In this video, I break down the numbers, the flaw in the original “money buys happiness up to a point” idea, and what this comparison actually tells us about wages, cost of living, and financial pressure. Thinking about moving, investing, or starting a new chapter in Colombia? Join me on our Colombia Scouting Trip in October 2026: 👉 https://theamericano.com/scouting-trip/ 📞 Want to talk about relocating abroad? https://mat.tg/call 📱 Tax Days — Tax Residency Tracker: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/taxdays... ☕ Support The Americano: https://buymeacoffee.com/theamericano SOURCES: The Price of Happiness by Country in 2026 Remitly https://www.remitly.com/us/en/insight... Ranked: The Income Needed to Be Happy Around the World — Visual Capitalist https://www.visualcapitalist.com/rank... This Is The Income Needed To Be “Happy” Around The World — ZeroHedge https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-fi... High Income Improves Evaluation of Life but Not Emotional Well-Being — Kahneman & Deaton https://www.princeton.edu/~deaton/dow... Income and Emotional Well-Being: A Conflict Resolved — Killingsworth, Kahneman & Mellers https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas... CHAPTERS 00:00 The Price of Happiness 00:46 America’s $134,827 Number 02:03 What This Study Actually Measures 03:28 Where the U.S. Ranks 04:42 Where Colombia Ranks 05:42 The Variable Nobody Measured 06:58 What Happens With Foreign Income 08:03 The $1,525-a-Month Number 09:32 Social Security Changes the Math 10:57 The U.S. Poverty Line Comparison 12:18 The Problem With the Study 14:18 Does Money Really Stop Buying Happiness? 15:42 It’s a Floor, Not a Ceiling 16:45 The Other Side of Colombia’s Numbers 17:47 What $1,525 Does NOT Cover 18:42 The Real Takeaway COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES Bogotá Nomads For expats, travelers, and remote workers navigating Colombia in real time: https://BogotaNomads.com The Passport – 2026 Regional Guides + Membership In-depth analysis on global living, quality of life, and strategic relocation: https://thepassport.co Free Newsletter Global living insights and relocation realities delivered weekly: https://psprt.to/newsletter Consulting and Projects Custom software, AI builds, and long-term international structuring: https://mat.tg/call Separate paid relocation consults are available for Colombia-specific planning. Real Estate Newsletter Market insights and real-world investing perspectives: https://newsletter.brokor.com #CostOfLiving #RetirementAbroad #AmericansAbroad #SocialSecurity #LivingInColombia #ExpatLife #FinancialFreedom #RemoteWork #LifeAbroad