Research Has Shown That Having A Close Friend Is Worth $150,000, And People Derive More Life Satisfaction From Close Friendships Than Both High Incomes And Marriage

“On average, people with a rich social network report a significantly higher life satisfaction, and it has nothing to do with work or marriage,” Powdthavee said.

Afterward, the team explored the amount of additional income needed to bring someone without a close friend up to the same level of satisfaction as someone who has one, determining it to be $150,000 per year.

Now, in the wake of this finding, Powdthavee cautioned people against getting too caught up in the specific monetary figure, emphasizing instead the practical implications of the research.

Powdthavee claimed that life is full of trade-off choices, such as spending additional hours at work versus engaging in more social activities.

So, opting to dedicate more time to work at the cost of your friendships might end up being the less satisfying option in terms of overall happiness.

This is an important aspect to weigh when evaluating a job offer. Should you lean towards a higher-paying position that limits your time for socializing, you’d need to compensate with roughly $150,000 extra annually “on top of your current salary,” Powdthavee concluded.

To read the study’s complete findings, visit the link here.