A Boring Dystopia

Ten years ago, things might have been cheaper, but not any longer. I'm an American living in an expensive part of Europe, while also maintaining a place in a similarly expensive part of the US. I'm going to say Europe Here but I'm referring to our specific corner of Europe which has a huge range of costs. Similar for the US. Here are my actual numbers:

Electricity: Europe: 99€ US: $95

Internet: Europe: 26€ US: $62

mobile phone (per line): Europe: 17€ US: $40

grocery budget (monthly) family of two: Europe: 750€ US: $900

Health insurance monthly (private): Europe: 190€ US: $800 (partially subsidized by work, real price closer to $1200)

Car insurance monthly: Europe: 105€ US: $195

Petrol costs monthly: Europe: 225€ ~7€/gallon US: $250 ~$3.50/gallon

Oil change at car dealership: Europe: 70€ US: $95

US mortgage + tax + insurance (2 bedroom house): $1775

Europe rent + renter insurance: 1225€

Local mid range restaurant: Europe: 62€ US: $105

Dog grooming: Europe: 60€ US: $95

Vet visit: Europe: 60€ US: $150

Doctors visit (with insurance): Europe: 30€ US: $50

Diagnostic labs (with insurance): Europe: 30€ US: $150

The US has become shockingly expensive. Some of this is because we spend more to eat quality food when there, and we are in a bit of a touristy area. Both locations are in touristy areas though, so not entirely different. I might be in the minority but I don't see much difference in lifestyle between the two areas I frequent.

• The fruits and vegetables are about the same price but taste much better in Europe.

• The bread is far cheaper, more available and better in Europe.

• The specialty products we like to eat are much cheaper in Europe. Eg, feta cheese, french butter and jam, etc.

• The meat is about the same, maybe a bit cheaper in Europe. I don't taste much difference.

The most important differences for us are:

1. If we don't feel good we go the the emergency room in Europe. Yes we will wait a long time to be seen, but the cost last time was 175€. In the US, you will wait a day to see if you feel better, because you are going to wait just as long and the bill will be a minimum of $1200 with insurance.

2. We do not take the car out every day in Europe, because we can walk to a small grocery store, medical lab, print shop, bakery. We must take the car out for any trip in the US, and the distances are longer.

3. Customer service in Europe is sometimes not all that helpful, and they give that impression to you when talking to them. Customer service in the US seems very nice and accommodating, but they are equally unhelpful in most cases.

4. People you hire to do work for you seem to have far more variability in the US. They might be extraordinarily expensive, super cheap, might not show up, etc. In Europe, the prices seem to be on average cheaper than the US, and the workers on average a bit more reliable, but more laid back and less busy than in the US.

5. And finally, most importantly, any company you deal with in the US will constantly try to extract more and more from you. Every year, prices ratchet up, new charges are itemized, things previously included now cost extra, billing mistakes are created and they are never in your favor. In Europe our experience is that companies you deal with mostly maintain prices. To be fair, some of these are sanctioned monopolies, but the same is true in the US and somehow they do it anyway. This has been our experience with insurance, utilities, car maintenance, etc. The system wears you down in the US until you have no fight left.