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Everywhere? Once you get used to functioning public services (transit especially), density of services (groceries, cafes), and a decent return on your tax dolla
by azernik 9y ago
Everywhere? Once you get used to functioning public services (transit especially), density of services (groceries, cafes), and a decent return on your tax dollars for things like retirement savings and health care, even the Bay starts to pale.
That's not to say that all parts of Europe are better to live in than all parts of the US; but rich, central urban areas of the kind that techies can afford to live in are fantastic in Western Europe.
- smsm42 9y agoPublic transit is crappy, but it's the US for you - outside of large cities, everybody's driving. I suppose in rural Europe the situation is the same, but there's not much to do in rural Europe if you're working in high tech. OTOH, San Jose - The Capital of Silicon Valley as it calls itself - is quite rural despite its large population, especially compared to cities like Munich. Thus crappy public transport. Once you get past that - i.e. accept that you'd have to drive - the density of services is fine, they are pretty much same distance (measured in time) you'd find them in the city, except that you're driving there. As for return on your tax dollars, can't compare to Europe due to lack of information. Healthcare is fine, retirement savings don't have much to do with tax dollars anyway.
- azernik 9y agoEuropean state pensions (the equivalent of social security in the US - also covers unemployment and (like SS) disability insurance) are much more generous than their US equivalents. The amount of your income that needs to go into private retirement savings erodes the value of higher US salaries.
- smsm42 9y agoHow much more generous, compared to taxes paid?