Europe vs. America - The Good and The Bad
As a young foreigner who has lived in the US for a little over a year and half now, something I routinely get asked by my American friends is “what are the differences between living in America and living in Europe?”. This is an incredibly frustrating experience, not least because the question is unbelievably broad and general, it’s been asked a million of times, and on paper, the differences are too numerous to even begin to get into; ranging from variations in food, lifestyles, personal freedoms, and the overall culture clash. But then I was asked a more thoughtful question- “If you had to choose, would you want to live in the States or Europe?”. Now, this is a question which can be answered more specifically. Based off my own experiences, plus a copious amount of research and the interviewing of friends who’ve had similar experiences, I drew up a short list.
Assuming work was not the dominant issue, and that you could find work in your chosen field in whatever country you lived in, then I would say that the choice of living in American or Europe comes down to how you perceive your immediate world. It’s all about you, and what you want out of life. Here is a list of major differences in living between America and Europe, and how they would affect your life:
1. Healthcare:
The big one, and a very prominent factor is making the choice. One of the biggest appeals of living in Europe is that European healthcare is accessible to everyone, even tourists, whilst also remaining comparatively affordable. Most European countries have a system of tightly regulated, competing private health insurance companies, with government subsidies available for citizens who cannot afford coverage, and quite a few others have the much- beloved universal healthcare model (France, Germany, UK, Spain). European citizens have access to a European Health Insurance Card, which, on a reciprocal basis, provides insurance for emergency medical treatment insurance when visiting other participating European countries. An American tourist travelling through Europe can be treated for a relatively serious injury; a break, a sprain, a deep cut or even mild head trauma, at almost any European hospital, and the cost will be astronomically lower than what they’d have pay back home, or even quite possibly be completely free. However, the trade-off is that the general quality of healthcare in Europe is substandard, especially when compared to the United States- huge wait times, having to book appointments weeks in advance. In layman’s terms, you get what you pay for. In America, the doctors are paid far more than their European counterparts, the pharmaceutical companies generally have far higher budgets for the research and development of cutting-edge drugs, and there exists a near- collusion between healthcare providers and insurance companies in the United States. Rage and indignation at the lack of basic basic, affordable healthcare is commonplace, but you must also acknowledge that most of the stories of live-saving surgeries occurring, or rare diseases being cured, happen in American hospitals. So essentially, it boils down to the following:
If you believe you will likely only ever need routine care for the majority of your working life, then choose Europe. If you fear rare or obscure diseases, viral or genetic, and/or don’t care if you ruin your credit score for the next 7 years (i.e. declaring bankruptcy if your bills get too high), then choose the United States.
2. Individualism and Collectivism:
Small Town living vs Big Town living.
This concept of ‘Individualism’ is more pronounced in the US than anywhere else in the world. Here, self-reliance is king, and no-where is it more obvious than the cities. Urban culture stridently promotes networking, independence, what value do you offer? And it’s the same in Europeans cities, if not quite so emphasised. If you perceive the world through the eyes of a self-starter, an individualist who’s only want in life is to succeed and be your best self, then the US really is the best place for you. The national mindset here is one of “self-excellence”; you haul yourself up by your bootstraps and you make what you want out of your life. Like responds to like, and people will be more inclined to mesh with you if you’re thinking on their wavelength.
That being said, the Individualist mindset can come at the cost of your mental and social well-being, especially in modern America. The recent “Unravelling of America” article in the Rolling Stones puts it best when they say “The American cult of the individual denies not just community but the very idea of society. No one owes anything to anyone. All must be prepared to fight for everything: education, shelter, food, medical care.” The idea of “Community” does not have quite the same weight in big-city America, since people are brought up to believe that handouts are wrong.
Small-town living, by contrast, is the complete opposite. Here, ‘Community’ has all the meaning it should have in the larger urban area; for instance, everybody helps everybody- from helping you carry a heavy couch out of the store to pulling your car out of snowbank. People aren’t afraid to leave their houses unlocked, since there is implicit Trust in the community. Friendships and relationships stand the test of time. There’s a sense of intimacy here that only the most tight-knit city blocks could understand. The downside- it’s isolating. Fewer social events, and a lack of diversity/variety can mean the more free-spirited individual can and will get rather restless.
3. Opportunity vs. Security:
America is a place which rewards ambition. If you’re prepared to put in the hard work for your dream, then choose the USA, the land of opportunity. Working hard to become financially independent, “climbing the company ladder,” aspiring to a position of leadership, or setting up your own business, these are all aspects of the American Dream. The
competitive, dynamic, fast-paced work culture motivates you to achieve more; there’s a reason the US boasts the highest number of billionaires and millionaires per capita than any other country. The mindset is “hard work will always pay off”, and the bosses and employers look for it like hawks.
If job stability is what you’re after, as someone who is content to stay in the same position for the rest of their career, and the work they do is only a means to an end so that you can live out your non-working life as you see fit, then Europe is where you will want to work. In European countries, worker-friendly labour laws mean people generally work fewer hours and have access to far more holiday time than their American counterparts. For example, a mid-level Danish worker will earn roughly the same after-tax income as an American, while working 20 percent less. Europeans also tend to take their holidays all at once, something which I hear does not happen in the US.
4. Travelling and Holidays:
How and where do you want to spend your hard-earned holidays?
If you love the natural world in all its splendour, and you want nothing more than to experience the great outdoors, then choose the United States. Your travel opportunities are myriad: hiking across national parks and scaling mountain ranges, seeing breathtaking natural wonders and lush forests, skiing in some of the best snow in the world, white water rafting down raging rivers, scuba diving in the Pacific and the Atlantic, horse-riding across Great Plains, all packed into one county. Cheap petrol and gas means you get to be flexible with your travel options; you can visit all these places from the convenience and comfort of your own vehicle. And of all of this comes before the national holidays; from the communal enjoyment of the 4th July BBQ and fireworks, to the frenetic energy of Halloween and St Patrick’s Day. There is so much to do and celebrate here, it’s hardly surprising the vast majority of Americans have no inclination to leave.
If, on the other hand, your pleasure is people, and a massive variety in culture and urbane experiences, then choose Europe. Your travelling and holiday options will be more focused around the cosmopolitan experiences on offer; Wine-tasting in Beaune, the heart of French wine country, for example. When you’re done, simply hop on a train, and you could be browsing Berlin’s winter markets, or taking in a play in London’s West End. If you want adventure, you can run with bulls in Pamplona, or if something relaxing is your speed, then you can go sight-seeing and take a cooking class in a culinary capital like Rome. Or, if you simply want to drink and party into oblivion, then head to an island getaway like Ibiza, or Mykonos, or Cyprus.
P.S In America, you will be driving. That is a fact. Be it for travel or for commuting, you will need access to a vehicle if you want your life to run smoothly. Public Transport is non- existent in most of the country, and 95% of American households own a car, which means traffic and congestion will become a part of your life. That goes for air travel too; there are also at least 20 different airlines operating in the US. If you’re someone who likes to plan out there commute in an efficient and cost-effective manner, you will be sorely disappointed living in America.
5. Politics and Political action
It should go without saying that if you only see the world through a political lens, then your choice should be cut-and-dried for you. If you prefer “socialism” over “capitalism”, choose Europe, and vice versa for the United States (although that’s not really true, as most all European countries are still capitalism-based—especially Eastern Europe, and you may be surprised to hear that the United States has a surprising number of socialist policies: Federal system of education, Federal employment training, heavy progressive income tax etc.)
The US does have a specific advantage- direct political action. If you’re a citizen, or you aspire to citizenship, America is a land where policy and lawmakers are, for the most part, directly beholden to their constituents. Your rights, your freedoms, are more rabidly protected in the USA than anywhere else. In varies state by state, but on the whole America is a place where your voice can and will make a difference. If you believe in self-protection, in having the freedom/right to protect yourself or your family with guns vs. relying on your local police force to protect you, then choose the United States.
