[gigantosaurus]

> You earn more money and spend more money, but on average it's the same proportion.

Proportions of spending are not a good comparison of wealth between countries, only within them. People tend to live approximately at what they can afford, perhaps borrow or save a bit. Most people will spend 30-50% on housing and 10-30% on food, just because they will adjust their tastes to their means.

What you can afford with the X% however differs greatly between countries.

In most of Eastern Europe, spending 30% of your income on housing will get you a 30-year loan for a 600 sq. foot apartment in a "soviet projects" style high-rise apartment block. Only middle class can afford a car, and only the upper middle class or wealthy have more than one car per family and a house in the suburbia. It is common for three generations to live together to save on housing and childcare.

Also, while the prices of services are adjusted to the local labor rates, import goods are not. A new laptop is a significant purchase - similar to how you buy a car in the US.