One other important thing to realize is that as a software developer you are not only paid worse than in the US, but there are also other subtler differences.

One other important thing to realize is that as a software developer you are not only paid worse than in the US, but there are also other subtler differences. In Germany for example, the difference between the median wage for the general population and the median wage for developers is much less pronounces than it is in the US. You should expect to take a cut in terms of social status as well, being a developer in Europe isn't as sexy as it is in the US.