And in Germany I'd be hard-pressed to find you a non-management tech job that makes north of 90k USD/year.
How is that relevant? (And) Once you factor in healthcare, education (for kids) and housing, I suspect that 90K USD in Berlin goes just as far as 200K USD in Silicon Valley, probably a lot further.
It doesn't. Germany is having its own little housing price explosion in every major city where there is employment. Prices are being driven up by wealthy non-tech investors throughout the EU thinking German (and London) real estate is the only safe place to hold onto their fortunes. Consumer goods prices are also significantly higher than in the US.
Healthcare is approximately the same cost now from what I've seen with ACA prices in the US. Education is still cheaper, but only if you assume an American student will have zero financial aid. I also doubt this lower price tag offsets the prices and regressive taxation elsewhere throughout the economy.
> Healthcare is approximately the same cost now from what I've seen with ACA prices in the US.
Germany has $6,000+ deductibles? Thin provider networks that leave out the good doctors and hospitals, and large or even unlimited out-of-pocket limits for out-of-network care?
Monthly premiums are just the beginning of the story.
Not to go too deep into the weeds, but there are comparable trade-offs, such as premiums being a percentage of pay instead of a flat fee. The German system is without a doubt better, but I think (and hope) that the US is closing this gap with the ACA and a general awareness of the problem.
But we don't need to compare ledgers to show that 80k USD in Berlin, Munich or Frankfurt won't go nearly as far as 200k in SV or SF. That's what exchange rates and the big mac index are for, and that's why I converted the currency to USD in my original comment. You can argue the rate is maybe 10 or 15% off, and I can argue for 10-15% the other way, but no way is a dollar (0.82 EUR) 2-3 times as powerful in Germany.
Healthcare is approximately the same cost now from what I've seen with ACA prices in the US.
Are you using ACA? (I am.) Do Germans have to pay $500-$1000/month, maybe more if you're older, for a plan that pays almost 80% of their in-network costs? And speaking of those costs, how much is an endoscopy in Germany? Here I was just quoted $8000.
German healthcare is clearly superior by any measure not thought up by a Koch-Brothers think-tank. It covers 100% of treatment, and even if it didn't, list prices for treatment are not off-the-wall absurd. I'm not arguing that the ACA fixed US health care, nor would I.
My point was that the cost of living here is also very high. Sure, there are EU/US trade-offs all over the place, but they are not anywhere near big enough for you (or the GP, or anyone) to just wave away a factor-of-three pay difference.
Btw, yes, last I checked my monthly premium is over 400€, so it cleanly weighs in within the range you name. I switched to private insurance because public 'Krankenkasse' charges a percentage of gross income, which would turn out to be even more. Not complaining, just answering your question in case you really wanted to know.
How is that relevant? (And) Once you factor in healthcare, education (for kids) and housing, I suspect that 90K USD in Berlin goes just as far as 200K USD in Silicon Valley, probably a lot further.