I agree with Wiggy, in my experience people tend to live to their means and as your wages go up then you loosen the belt and spend a little more freely. Most people do this especially those with a wife and child where you are the only bread winner. I personally am very lucky as I live within 15 minutes of the Indian Ocean and white sand beaches, 10 minutes to a beautiful city, the locals speak English, drive on the same side of the road as the UK, year round sunshine, I drive a 4 litre petrol car and don't worry about fuel costs, have a 10 min bike ride to work... And I earn double the wages I can in the UK (where my wage is good)... Downsides, 40C is horribly hot, rents are very expensive (around 400 pounds a week), eating out cost a fortune when you can book a resturant and family is a long way away.
But I still get down days and worry about money sometimes so money doesn't necessarily buy happiness but it helps with some of lifes day to day shit.