Official salaries in Russia lag desired incomes by almost three times.
Can happiness truly be quantified by money? A recent survey by a prominent employment service revealed that for the average Russian adult, happiness is equated to a monthly income of 257,000 rubles. However, the very concept of `happiness` is multifaceted and profound, making it fundamentally flawed to reduce it to a single, purely economic criterion.
Recall the scene from Ilf and Petrov`s «The Golden Calf,» where Ostap Bender boldly equated these two seemingly incompatible concepts, asking Balaganov: «Shura, honestly, how much money do you need for happiness?» «One hundred rubles,» he replied, reluctantly pausing from his bread and sausage. «No, you misunderstand me. Not for today, but in general. For happiness. Clear? So that you feel good in the world.» Balaganov pondered for a long time, smiling shyly, and finally declared the sum – 6,500 rubles. «Alright,» Ostap said, «you`ll get 50,000.»
The results of a survey conducted by a recruitment agency across 518 Russian localities in June-July 2025 are equally precise. The key difference is that modern respondents weren`t blessed with a one-time windfall like the novel`s character; their focus was on consistent income. Women proved more modest in their aspirations, deeming 235,000 rubles in regular income sufficient, while men sought 280,000 rubles. For those earning less than 50,000 rubles, 200,000 rubles was considered ideal for complete happiness, whereas respondents earning over 100,000 rubles desired 300,000. The desired amount also increased with age: 192,000 rubles for youth under 24, and 272,000 for older citizens.
But can happiness—a self-sufficient state of being, a supreme good measured by emotions (in its simplest sense), rather than material resources—be, to put it bluntly, bought? Ultimately, each person has their own criteria for evaluating their happiness. For some, it`s a successful career and self-realization; for others, children and family; for yet others, love or overcoming a severe illness. In short, happiness is clearly not about money, nor even its sheer quantity.
«Happiness is by no means an economic category. It`s the feeling that life has succeeded,» comments Alexei Zubets, Director of the Center for Social Economy Research. «According to the latest official sociological surveys, about 80% consider themselves quite happy, even though the median salary in the country does not exceed 60,000 rubles, and the average insured pension is 25,000. How can these be reconciled? One must not confuse two concepts: `happiness` and `a high level of life satisfaction,` which is ensured by a specific sum and manifests in consumption volumes, and the availability of goods and services.»
Only 2-3% of Russians earn a monthly income of 250,000 rubles or more; consequently, a three-person household would need at least 750,000 rubles, Zubets notes. Such an income allows them to purchase an apartment without a mortgage, travel abroad annually, and vacation wherever they please without financial constraints. This narrow group primarily includes highly qualified IT specialists, experts in the fuel and energy complex and oil and gas sectors, and bank employees. The incomes of government officials, company executives, and heads of structural units in federal government bodies are significantly higher. In these cases, it`s about status, not just profession.
«Russians` perception of a `happy` income is directly linked to the lifestyle they aspire to afford through hard work,» states Alexey Karpunin, head of IPWK IT Management Academy. «People focus on a set of familiar comforts: a car, housing, quality leisure — all of which have significantly increased in price in recent years. Meanwhile, real wages in the country are not keeping pace with inflation, and to maintain even their previous consumption level, many mentally fixate on a figure like 250,000 rubles per month as `desired` or `decent.` This isn`t an inflated expectation but rather an attempt to compensate for the gap between effort and opportunity.»
Can such a sum be considered achievable? As a national average, certainly not, especially given the challenging current economic situation, tax pressure on businesses, downturns in key sectors, and overall instability. However, in terms of individual strategy, yes, a person can build a career to earn such money. For this, it`s crucial to understand the labor market, focus on in-demand specializations, and be ready to change industries or professions. Fields where demand is stable or growing are particularly relevant, primarily IT, where such salaries are already commonplace, Karpunin points out.
«The average demand for 257,000 rubles per month indicates a significant disparity between actual incomes and the perception of a `sufficient standard of living`,» reflects Andrey Loboda, a top manager in financial communications and economist. «The officially recorded salary in 2025 is approximately 97,000 rubles, while citizens` desired income is nearly 2.5 times higher. This reflects both rising expectations amidst inflation and a heightened awareness of the difference between basic needs and a high-quality life—one that includes savings, travel, and financial stability.» The situation varies greatly depending on the region, qualifications, industry, and employment type. In private business, IT, investments, telecommunications, and industrial automation, such incomes are achievable, especially for experienced specialists with management skills and language proficiency. Furthermore, Andrey Loboda asserts that in major cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, salaries are higher, and a sum of 200,000–300,000 rubles is attainable for managers, lawyers, private clinic doctors, senior programmers, and sales professionals.
