Difference between the American and European lifestyle? Which one is better long term assuming you want a nice upper middle class life

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Just like America, europe is not a monolithic culture

You should do this city vs city. London vs NYC. Berlin vs Dallas etc

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You want to be worked hard and not have enough family time but also have good money, then American lifestyle.

You want a month or 2 off during summer and pay quite a bit more in taxes, then European lifestyle.

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Overall easier lifestyle, better security and healthcare but more taxes in EU, but all depends on your security needs and openness.

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I feel like this conversation will inevitably result in the denizens of both stereotyping and hurling insults at one other. My point of view- they’re both great and it’s about what’s best for you. If you’re lucky enough to be upper middle class in either, congrats you won.

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The range in the USA (for what's possible or not) is much wider compared to western europe working styles/practices. Never have I ever seen ppl watching movies at work. But did in the US and it wasn't at the movies.
I think a euro socialized work ethic goes a long way in the US. What I find different is open comparisons, which are not made in euro settings and conflict management is executed very differently. That said you can have good or bad wlb in both spaces.

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If you're thinking of staying in consulting I'd argue US is better by far. UK, German, and Italian consultants get worked at least as hard as US ones and by comparison make far less money.
Europe is not monolithic, even inside a country. For example, Italian corporates can be nice and easy, but Italian management consulting is brutal.

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If you’re MBB America wipes Europe in both WLB and comp. Managers in MCOL and LCOL live like European aristocrats.

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So if I go to MBB in Nashville I’ll be living pretty good?

Why not both? Work in the US til your 30s while living frugally and saving, then move to Europe when you’re ready to have kids since you generally earn much less in Europe. I know a few people who have done that and gone back to their home country.

I want to work here in US and try send my kids to Europe for college. If they love it there and stay then I’ll move out there. I really wanna retire in Europe

As a European living in US, I can say it’s hard to broadly generalize as if it’s only 2 lifestyles between the 2 continents. So much depends on your job and skills, as well as factors like family wealth, race, sex, gender, religion, orientation still play a role in the opportunities and qualities of life…which varies by each European country.

Certain US cities like NYC lack the work life balance and expect you to work like a machine. No place in Europe is as notorious as nyc when it comes to cut throat career culture & expectations. Plus you will always feel like you don’t have enough $ unless you make millions$.

My goal is to work hard in the USA - get paid a ton - then move to Europe when I want kids for the more relaxed lifestyle; the salaries aren’t comparable

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