> However, to be fair, total "Swedish" comp should also include public benefits, like pension, parental leave, free "stay at home with sick child", free univers

> However, to be fair, total "Swedish" comp should also include public benefits, like pension, parental leave, free "stay at home with sick child", free university, free healthcare, etc Does it? don't you pay really high taxes on the 75k to cover for the benefits you just listed? Whereas in the US, you pay a lot less taxes and probably equal or better health insurance coverage if you're a SWE. I think another thing to factor in is housing and purchasing power. 200k in SF is different from 150k in the midwest or 90k in Malmö