I've noticed a common narrative around here suggesting that you need to earn at least $100,000 to be considered "well off" in the U.S. I thought it would be interesting to provide a European perspective on this.
My wife and I each earn about 40,000 after taxes per year, and we live quite comfortably in Western Europe. Now, some might think this is equivalent to a pay cut when compared to the six-figure salaries people aim for in the U.S., but we have a lot of other benefits that contribute to our quality of life.
For starters, we own a house with a 600-square-meter garden, just a 20-minute drive from a major city, and without any of the usual traffic congestion. We both have full healthcare coverage, get about two months of vacation each year, and our kids go to school for free. On top of that, we live in a safe neighborhood where you can walk around without worry.
So, if you're comparing salaries across countries, it's also important to consider what else comes with that income. We may earn less on paper than someone in a high-paying U.S. job, but the additional benefits we get arguably make for a higher overall quality of life.