[JoshMnem]

Cost of living is much lower. Health care is included. I think there were six weeks of paid vacation per year. Budapest was a 2 hour bus ride away (10 euros), and many other interesting destinations were very close. If difficult times strike, you won't be left to die on the street. Things like life experience and culture are often more important than money.

[doktrin]

I don't agree about cost of living aside from outliers like the SFBA, and US healthcare is by and large better if you have access to insurance.

At the end of the day, in the US you get more pay, more respect and more recognition for the same work - and in many cases American software devs get vacation packages that are comparable to the European standard.

[JoshMnem]

US is ranked something like 37th in the world for health care. I lived in a top-10 country, though didn't use the health care there.

[doktrin]

> US is ranked something like 37th in the world for health care.

That low ranking is probably well deserved, but it applies at the macro level. The US medical system is fundamentally asymmetrical, but it's great for the "haves" - and for those privileged enough to enjoy good insurance plans, it offers some of the best healthcare in the world.

Given the context of this discussion, I think it's fair to assume that American engineers considering a move abroad currently have health coverage at home (or are in a position to get it). Apples to apples.