"Quality of life" is relative, some people feel being isolated from family/established friends by being several time zones away to be a negative. Especially if

"Quality of life" is relative, some people feel being isolated from family/established friends by being several time zones away to be a negative. Especially if a family with school aged kids are involved. I would guess the biggest factor is cultural: the US was always viewed as the place to immigrate to if you wanted a "good life", not emigrate from. That includes the language issue - other languages were rarely encouraged since there was enough geographic diversity and opportunity that it was't necessary, people came here and learned English, not the other way around. Those US citizens that emigrated were assumed to leave because they wanted to experience a foreign culture, not necessarily because of quality of life issues. Most people just don't see it as an option because they don't know anyone who has emigrated.