On the plus side, you get considerably more for it (I don't regret moving from California to Denmark myself). For example, healthcare is included in that price,

On the plus side, you get considerably more for it (I don't regret moving from California to Denmark myself). For example, healthcare is included in that price, whereas in the US you have to pay for it separately. If you subtract what you'd have to pay in the U.S. for healthcare premiums + copay, your takehome pay goes down considerably, especially if you're older than ~40, a freelancer / small businessperson who isn't part of a corporate group plan, or have a family. And the public transportation infrastructure is also much better in Denmark, at least in Copenhagen; it's much easier to get by in Copenhagen without owning a car than it is in the Bay Area. Also, university is free, so nobody has student loans (another thing that reduces many Americans' real takehome paychecks). Actually, better than free: university students are paid a small stipend to cover their living expenses. I'm less annoyed by the level of taxation in California than the fact that, despite paying it, the money doesn't suffice to buy you health care, higher education, or good transit. If those were different I'd be happy to pay 50% more! (Also, you don't really pay an effective 60% tax in Denmark unless you make quite a lot of money. I make a decent professional salary and paid <40% overall.)