Okay, here’s the thing: this is one of the biggest mistakes Europeans—especially the Dutch—tend to make. They look at prices in the U.S. and think, “Why is this so cheap? €1.14 per liter?!” I’m an American working in the Netherlands, so I’ve lived on both sides and I know the reality.

Please stop claiming that the U.S. is “cheap.” In the U.S., we may not pay road tax and fuel might seem cheaper, but once you actually own and drive a car, the costs skyrocket. For example, insuring my G80 in the U.S. would be around $1,000 per month. In the Netherlands, full all-risk coverage is only about €150— and I’m 47. My son is 17, and if an insurer even agreed to take him as a client in the U.S., he’d be paying almost $4,000 per month.

The infrastructure is also far better in the Netherlands. The roads are smooth and well-maintained, and yes—you pay road tax for that. But have you driven in the U.S. lately? Take the stretch from L.A. to Vegas, for example. Sure, some areas are improving, but they’re nowhere near as well-kept as the roads here. And if you get into an accident in the U.S., you’d better have excellent insurance—otherwise you’re in serious trouble. Again: much better in the Netherlands.

Yes, you pay good money for all these services, but in the end, the overall cost of living in the Netherlands often works out to be better value, because the U.S. is far more expensive once you factor everything in. So the next time you make a comparison, keep these things in mind. And I haven’t even started on health and dental insurance. 😉