> but because of the functioning society, many things are free and taken care of (education, healthcare, daycare), your standard of living can end up higher.

> but because of the functioning society, many things are free and taken care of (education, healthcare, daycare), your standard of living can end up higher. If it works anything like in Sweden (i suspect it does), the employer pays a high tax too. The employer pays about twice of what ends up in the pocket of the employee. So I guess the salary levels are comparable.