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I have a friend living in CPH on 100k/pa income and he is living a very modest life. Unless you have a family with kids there is no point in going to DK. Your

I have a friend living in CPH on 100k/pa income and he is living a very modest life. Unless you have a family with kids there is no point in going to DK. Your quality of life will be significantly worse. If you insist on going to Western Europe then Germany, Austria or NL are much better places to be.

TheFragenTaken 3y ago
I don't think the article is arguing you should move to make significantly more money. The Nordics in general have a different look on work, family, freedom, and culture than the rest of Europe. That's what the article argues. If that doesn't fit your values, then obviously it's not the right fit.
- mathverse 3y ago
  I dont see those values and benefits being any different than rest of the Western Europe.
slau 3y ago
In Denmark, US$100k -- 700k DKK, will give you a pretty generous life. You can rent a large flat for yourself, and you can party every weekend. You can pretty much order in for every meal as well. Try living in SF on US$100k. Source: I supported myself + 2 others, and we lived very generously for a few years on pretty much that salary.
- jokethrowaway 3y ago
  Living in the US is not the bar. There are plenty of other places in EU with better tradeoffs. If you can work remotely, small countries in the balkans / southern europe (just avoid the high tax behemoths doomed to decline: italy, spain, france, greece) will be way better.
- mathverse 3y ago
  When was that? Life was much cheaper back then. My experience is from 2022 onwards.
  - slau 3y ago
    I still live in Denmark :)
    - mathverse 3y ago
      You probably dont pay mortgage then or have built some wealth. My friend is 2-3y in Denmark paying 500k mortgage on 100k income and life is very expensive and definitely not pleasant there.
      - slau 3y ago
        500k on 100k income? The rule of thumb for banks in Denmark is to take your yearly income (before tax) and multiply it by four, and that’s what you’re allowed to borrow. So your friend is over-indebted by Danish standards. As a foreigner, banks would’ve been very reticent about giving him a bank loan, and he would’ve had to down-pay at least 20% of his mortgage. In other words: I find your friend’s case extremely unlikely and probably made up. FYI: most people’s expenses go _down_ by buying in Denmark. The interest rates are stupidly low, in some cases even negative, you can pause principal reimbursement for 10 years, and your tax rate goes down.
        mathverse 3y ago
        Never said he borrowed on a single income. My friend works at Visma as SWE. BTW 20% downpayment is the usual deal in most of the EU countries and it does not have to do anything with one being foreigner or not. I find your remarks incredibly entitled and shortsighted most like coming from the need to defend your home country.
        slau 3y ago
        I’m not Danish :) In France you can borrow with a 5-15% down payment. In Denmark, as a Dane, you can easily get a mortgage with a 5-10% down payment. As a foreigner, it’s almost impossible to get with less than 20%. I’m being asked for 30% by my bank (because of the fact I own my own company). It’s one of the things I absolutely despise about Denmark. I apologise if I’ve come across as entitled—not quite sure how, however you’re right that this is a topic I feel strongly about.

TheFragenTaken 3y ago

I don't think the article is arguing you should move to make significantly more money. The Nordics in general have a different look on work, family, freedom, and culture than the rest of Europe. That's what the article argues. If that doesn't fit your values, then obviously it's not the right fit.

mathverse 3y ago
I dont see those values and benefits being any different than rest of the Western Europe.

slau 3y ago

In Denmark, US$100k -- 700k DKK, will give you a pretty generous life. You can rent a large flat for yourself, and you can party every weekend. You can pretty much order in for every meal as well. Try living in SF on US$100k. Source: I supported myself + 2 others, and we lived very generously for a few years on pretty much that salary.

jokethrowaway 3y ago
Living in the US is not the bar. There are plenty of other places in EU with better tradeoffs. If you can work remotely, small countries in the balkans / southern europe (just avoid the high tax behemoths doomed to decline: italy, spain, france, greece) will be way better.
mathverse 3y ago
When was that? Life was much cheaper back then. My experience is from 2022 onwards.
- slau 3y ago
  I still live in Denmark :)
  - mathverse 3y ago
    You probably dont pay mortgage then or have built some wealth. My friend is 2-3y in Denmark paying 500k mortgage on 100k income and life is very expensive and definitely not pleasant there.
    - slau 3y ago
      500k on 100k income? The rule of thumb for banks in Denmark is to take your yearly income (before tax) and multiply it by four, and that’s what you’re allowed to borrow. So your friend is over-indebted by Danish standards. As a foreigner, banks would’ve been very reticent about giving him a bank loan, and he would’ve had to down-pay at least 20% of his mortgage. In other words: I find your friend’s case extremely unlikely and probably made up. FYI: most people’s expenses go _down_ by buying in Denmark. The interest rates are stupidly low, in some cases even negative, you can pause principal reimbursement for 10 years, and your tax rate goes down.
      - mathverse 3y ago
        Never said he borrowed on a single income. My friend works at Visma as SWE. BTW 20% downpayment is the usual deal in most of the EU countries and it does not have to do anything with one being foreigner or not. I find your remarks incredibly entitled and shortsighted most like coming from the need to defend your home country.
        slau 3y ago
        I’m not Danish :) In France you can borrow with a 5-15% down payment. In Denmark, as a Dane, you can easily get a mortgage with a 5-10% down payment. As a foreigner, it’s almost impossible to get with less than 20%. I’m being asked for 30% by my bank (because of the fact I own my own company). It’s one of the things I absolutely despise about Denmark. I apologise if I’ve come across as entitled—not quite sure how, however you’re right that this is a topic I feel strongly about.