Is it true it is better to be in bottom 50% earners in Europe compared to USA but it is better to be in top 50% in USA than Europe

[Will be deleted]

Like do USA have such extreme high cost of living and economic inequality that bottom 50% struggle very hard, even harder than bottom 50%. But at same time the inequality and lower taxes make it significantly eaiser for the rest of the population to live better than their european counterparts at the same economic level?

[EndangeredPootisBird]

European countries tend to have extensive social safety nets, which is something that is lacking in the US.

[Will be deleted]

To me it seems even at $200k salary (in california) USA is not necessarily better than like western europe, especially since earning so much tend to come at cost of working long hours and employeers want to get rid of you and replace you with cheaper workers from oversea.

And cost of living where you can realistically earn $200k seems extreme.

And now many people living in those location earn under $100k and I'm not even sure how they get by beyond living very minimal.

[SirKnechtalot]

In the US you don't know how much worse you're off by all metrics. Yeah salaries're much higher but so are all other metrics.

Since it's relatively likely your kids get shot at school i'm hugely in favour of Yurop simply because of that.

[SirKnechtalot]

Originally posted by Beltneck:

Originally posted by EndangeredPootisBird:

European countries tend to have extensive social safety nets, which is something that is lacking in the US.

Only need a safety net if you can't get a job.

LOL! Yeah tell this the people working for 0 salary right now. It wouldn't surprise me if they aren't eligable for basic care- thus a broken arm bankrupts them...

[MinionJoe]

Originally posted by Will be deleted:

To me it seems even at $200k salary (in california) USA is not necessarily better than like western europe, especially since earning so much tend to come at cost of working long hours and employeers want to get rid of you and replace you with cheaper workers from oversea.

And cost of living where you can realistically earn $200k seems extreme.

And now many people living in those location earn under $100k and I'm not even sure how they get by beyond living very minimal.

So the topic of the discussion is actually, "Is it true it is better to be in bottom 50% earners in Europe compared to California but it is better to be in top 50% in California than Europe."

And the answer is, "Yes, it is better to be in parts Europe than anywhere in California."

[XxTTHREExX]

Originally posted by EndangeredPootisBird:

European countries tend to have extensive social safety nets, which is something that is lacking in the US.

👆This👆 Which also makes the answer to your question “yes, sort of”.

I have Type 1 Diabetes, and the US Health Insurance system sucks. It’s designed by healthy people, for healthy people. The idea here is that work comes first in order to “afford” your healthcare, but that hurts people like myself tremendously especially in the early parts of life when moving out and trying to afford to live on your own. Here, along with rent and other bills like everyone else has, people like me have large medical debts hanging over us, and not all jobs have to offer health insurance (depends on the business) which makes the out of pocket costs much higher.

Not sure that it would be “better” to be one or the other in Europe though. If I lived in Europe & made lots of money I would have no problem with a high tax that benefits the nation, just as much as I would be grateful if I earned less there and got the benefit. That to me is a country worth investing my time and effort into. Not like ‘Murica who says “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.

[SirKnechtalot]

Just to demonstrate how bad the situation is: i payed less than 300€ for health care last month. No upfront cost whatsoever. Yeah a few bucks if i need to buy at the pharmacy but irrelevant.
It's absurd to me believeing visiting a doctor can bankrupt you or calling an ambulance.
I earn less than 200k. Way less and still live much better. I cannot be fired tomorrow because whatsoever. I worked for years at my company and if they want to fire me i'd have several months to plan.
Yurop is way better to live a real actual life not some influencer fiction. I was puzzled when Obama got so much heat for what seemed to me mediocre basics. Then i understood how cr*ppy the situation in the US realy is. It's dog-sh*t plain and simple.

[Will be deleted]

You can earn $200k in USA as a software developer but most don't earn that much.

[gwwak]

Originally posted by Will be deleted:

Like do USA have such extreme high cost of living and economic inequality that bottom 50% struggle very hard, even harder than bottom 50%. But at same time the inequality and lower taxes make it significantly eaiser for the rest of the population to live better than their european counterparts at the same economic level?

Is OP a burner account?

https://imgur.com/a/csGVztH

[Despiser]

For rich people, US has great healthcare facilities and quality education. For the average person other places offer better options with more quality of life benefits, comprehensive healthcare and subsidized or free colleges and universities. It also comes down to personal tastes. A country like Singapore has excellent social infrastructure, extremely clean, but rules that you must abide by. Like you can be fined for tossing a cigarette butt or not flushing a toilet, Italy is beautiful but not car friendly and inundated with tourists

[XxTTHREExX]

I think America tries to make itself seem better by making other places seem worse.

[Voroff]

Originally posted by XxTTHREExX:

I think America tries to make itself seem better by making other places seem worse.

Yep.

[salamander]

Originally posted by XxTTHREExX:

I think America tries to make itself seem better by making other places seem worse.

pretty much, yes. though some things about usa are exaggerated, generally the reason the rest of the world is so "anti-american" has less to do with the issues in america itself, but more because so many americans refuse to acknowledge those issues.

or worse, actively pretend those issues do not exist while calling everywhere outside of usa a lawless wasteland. and of course they say this while never having set foot outside of their own country.

[bAd a!m]

At the present moment, with daddy trump and the active tariffs, it's better to work or have your company based in europe

before the tariffs were placed, it was a better deal to have your company based in US

now, for the employee perspective, in US you get almost no protection as a working class citizen, unless you're joining the military

in europe, working any legal job grants an extended bonus of social protections and job protections

[Apollo702]

I have tons of European relatives who come to visit me regularly- mostly Scandinavian.

They all make good livings and I tend to associate with well educated/skilled types.

And they gladly pay higher taxes for greater benefits.

They all can do things like travel regularly and not think twice about it.

Now as far as the high cost areas of America, that is whole other discussion...