[lxgr]

Yes, if you're a professional in high demand, you can live a great life in the US. But how does the quality of life of everybody below the median look like?

> This gets amplified if you're a highly sought after professional. Top senior engineers are getting paid $500k-$1M in the US. These are figures you'll never find in Europe or Asia, not even close.

But what does that buy you really, in a high cost of living area? What if you ever want to do something else? What if demands for your profession change? How expensive is it to raise children?

I have first hand experience of both the US and Europe, and while nominal salaries are (much) lower in the latter, subjective feelings of safety and quality of life seem much more comparable than the numbers might make you believe.

That said, the US system of highly rewarding relatively few people at the top certainly motivates the masses like few others: Most people are bad at statistics and like playing the lottery.

[systemf_omega]

> But how does the quality of life of everybody below the median look like?

This discussion is about whether or not the US is a top brain drain destination. That means we're talking about exceptionally skilled or promising scientists/engineers/doctors at the top of their field. I'm not claiming life is great for everyone in America. I agree it isn't.

> But what does that buy you really, in a high cost of living area?

Look at the PPP in CA. It buys you a lot. People in HCOL cities that manage their finances well can become multi-millionaires in their early 30s. They will already be able to retire in 99% of the world, with enough savings to lead incredibly comfortable and luxurious lives. Meanwhile, people in Europe have on average lower assets and savings, low levels of home ownership, and lower likelihood to retire early at a comparable standard of living. Not to mention the pension crisis many of them are or will be facing in the near future.

[lxgr]

> This discussion is about whether or not the US is a top brain drain destination.

And my point is that this is increasingly the case due to a combination of inertia and people’s bad EV calculations:

> They will already be able to retire in 99% of the world, with enough savings to lead incredibly comfortable and luxurious lives.

Just demographically, this will never be viable for a large fraction of the population, regardless of any economic concerns.

This leaves truly exceptional talents, and those that incorrectly assume that that’s them.

And this isn’t even considering how AI is potentially going to shake up knowledge work.