I don't know how you define Eastern Europe, but I've had a bunch of friends who moved back to Poland after working in Google in the Bay Area, claiming that the

I don't know how you define Eastern Europe, but I've had a bunch of friends who moved back to Poland after working in Google in the Bay Area, claiming that the quality of life is better here. Ditto myself - I spend winters in SF, because of the weather and amazing people and the community there, but in most other aspects Warsaw wins. City cleanliness, restaurants & coffee places (sic), access to schools, transportation, and healthcare. SF by comparison has awesome nature, clean air and brilliant community. Plus access to one-day shipping of a ton of stuff unavailable in Europe. As for lower-income people, I'm curious what metrics you used. With the main ones that come to my mind (education, healthcare, work benefits, unemployed benefits) I think Poland and Europe win. But lower income people can't afford cars and iPhones - so that's different.