[user5994461]

30k salary = 17XX € per month.

Let's say a flat is 500k. I hate to disappoint you but you'll never afford to buy a flat.

[erowtom]

You've misunderstood. I get 26570 euros at the end of the year, after paying taxes, food, electricity, flat, insurances, common life stuff. This is the "bonus". I also moved to another company and greatly increased my revenue :).

[_r2gl]

I don't know man, I'm with user5994461, after all my bills monthly ($2,000 monthly rent, $350 new car, $200 insurance, $30 phone, $200~ utilities, ~$500 food) I have +/- $60,000 USD at the end of the year after taxes in surplus with only one year of experience and no diploma..

[user5994461]

I'm in the UK. The comparison makes more sense.

US salaries are a different story entirely. (We can't even get there because of VISA anyway).

[_r2gl]

Hmm, it seems that if I wanted to go work somewhere over there though, that it would be a crazy pay cut even if we factor in all the benefits

[user5994461]

You can't, because if you're American and you work in the UK, you'll have to pay taxes in your home country on top of your British taxes. That will ruin whatever compensation you have.

Please. Let's leave Europe to European and USA to the USA. No cross continent comparison.

[user5994461]

Correction: You live with your girlfriend and you managed to save that after you shared all your expenses TOGETHER, especially dividing your rent by 2.

I can live in London, ALONE, and still get more savings than that at the end of the year, just sayin'.