6 ms·

Disagreeing is fine but myth is an odd word to choose since I live it in 2023. For reference, I'm from Los Angeles, moved to EU and can attest to this.¯\_(ツ)_/¯

i_have_an_idea 3y ago
My overall point is that of course your cost of living will be lower when you consume a lot less. And I disagree that the quality of life is the same for someone who lives in a nice house vs small apartment, has to use public transport vs personal luxury vehicle and so on.
- gerardcastillo 3y ago
  Yeah, I get that people have different thoughts and priorities on what is luxurious to them. That makes sense. I'm not really a car person since I grew up needing one for 30 years in LA finding parking multiple times a day. I just wouldn't make too many assumptions about how things work over here. Not sure why there is an assumption that I live in a small apartment. Big houses are also cheap in the suburbs over here :) You should visit sometime!
  - ddorian43 3y ago
    Your "moved to EU" is very generic. If you say the city name it would become more clear to readers.
- addicted 3y ago
  You are right about the quality of life being different between the two. You’re probably not right about which one is actually better. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/cities-depression-lower-rates-mental-health-psychology-socioeconomic-networks https://news.uchicago.edu/story/cities-depression-lower-rate... And this is in the U.S. which has among the worst cities but the best suburbs in the developed world.
- KptMarchewa 3y ago
  Of course, the one having to do hour long commutes in personal tin can has it worse.
  - i_have_an_idea 3y ago
    https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2025-cadillac-escalade-iq-interior-109-64d24fb591b24.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2025-cadillac-es... Looks horrible. I'm sure it's much better to be packed like in a can of sardines with all kinds of random people.
    - blovescoffee 3y ago
      To each their own. Personally I prefer to ride the metro when I could easily take an Uber or buy a car. It’s quite relaxing and super cheap.
- snapcaster 3y ago
  small apartment + not driving anywhere is much better
- financltravsty 3y ago
  Consuming less, what a thought! I feel I need to consume less in general whenever I’m outside the U.S. It might be the lack of stress that pervades everything in the U.S. I don’t need material things to comfort me when my spiritual needs are taken care of.
  - gtirloni 3y ago
    That's fine but your employer is making the same or more due to your work, while you "enjoy" your frugal lifestyle. Why not be properly compensated, spend less and enjoy life with extra vacations or early retirement?
    - financltravsty 3y ago
      Early retirement is usually a symptom of the above: you do not enjoy your present life, so you hope to escape the circumstances surrounding it. Do most Europeans need an early retirement or are they living a relaxed, fulfilling life and have no need for an escape?
      - gtirloni 3y ago
        My point is that someone is exploiting your (very acceptable and correct, IMHO) relaxed lifestyle. It's the society you're inserted in, for better or worse.
- fulafel 3y ago
  Consuming less is pretty much a moral imperative in the climate crisis.
  - isbvhodnvemrwvn 3y ago
    Out of choice, not out of necessity.

i_have_an_idea 3y ago

My overall point is that of course your cost of living will be lower when you consume a lot less. And I disagree that the quality of life is the same for someone who lives in a nice house vs small apartment, has to use public transport vs personal luxury vehicle and so on.

gerardcastillo 3y ago
Yeah, I get that people have different thoughts and priorities on what is luxurious to them. That makes sense. I'm not really a car person since I grew up needing one for 30 years in LA finding parking multiple times a day. I just wouldn't make too many assumptions about how things work over here. Not sure why there is an assumption that I live in a small apartment. Big houses are also cheap in the suburbs over here :) You should visit sometime!
- ddorian43 3y ago
  Your "moved to EU" is very generic. If you say the city name it would become more clear to readers.
addicted 3y ago
You are right about the quality of life being different between the two. You’re probably not right about which one is actually better. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/cities-depression-lower-rates-mental-health-psychology-socioeconomic-networks https://news.uchicago.edu/story/cities-depression-lower-rate... And this is in the U.S. which has among the worst cities but the best suburbs in the developed world.
KptMarchewa 3y ago
Of course, the one having to do hour long commutes in personal tin can has it worse.
- i_have_an_idea 3y ago
  https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2025-cadillac-escalade-iq-interior-109-64d24fb591b24.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2025-cadillac-es... Looks horrible. I'm sure it's much better to be packed like in a can of sardines with all kinds of random people.
  - blovescoffee 3y ago
    To each their own. Personally I prefer to ride the metro when I could easily take an Uber or buy a car. It’s quite relaxing and super cheap.
snapcaster 3y ago
small apartment + not driving anywhere is much better
financltravsty 3y ago
Consuming less, what a thought! I feel I need to consume less in general whenever I’m outside the U.S. It might be the lack of stress that pervades everything in the U.S. I don’t need material things to comfort me when my spiritual needs are taken care of.
- gtirloni 3y ago
  That's fine but your employer is making the same or more due to your work, while you "enjoy" your frugal lifestyle. Why not be properly compensated, spend less and enjoy life with extra vacations or early retirement?
  - financltravsty 3y ago
    Early retirement is usually a symptom of the above: you do not enjoy your present life, so you hope to escape the circumstances surrounding it. Do most Europeans need an early retirement or are they living a relaxed, fulfilling life and have no need for an escape?
    - gtirloni 3y ago
      My point is that someone is exploiting your (very acceptable and correct, IMHO) relaxed lifestyle. It's the society you're inserted in, for better or worse.
fulafel 3y ago
Consuming less is pretty much a moral imperative in the climate crisis.
- isbvhodnvemrwvn 3y ago
  Out of choice, not out of necessity.