High earners, in good health, and especially with no kids will definitely make more money - even after costs for healthcare - in the US. The difference is in h

High earners, in good health, and especially with no kids will definitely make more money - even after costs for healthcare - in the US. The difference is in how protected they are from downside risk. You can even price it if you want: how much would it cost to buy a level of income and health protection in the US equivalent to the German safety net? Germany by the way isn't that generous by Western European standards. I'd be interested to see someone price it - my suspicion is that it would be ruinously expensive. Of course, German nationals have the option of returning if they have to. They can earn in the US if their life circumstances make that possible while fleeing to safety if required. It's a pretty valuable option.