[Belfaborac]

You can't compare the two sides of the Atlantic the way you seem to want to do. On this side our taxes and the VAT (which is mainly, or partly, what makes things expensive) pays for universal health care, free education, pensions and what have you. On your side, you (or your employer if you're lucky) pay for most or all of that stuff yourself. That's all too simplistic of course, but basically the way it is.

At the end of the day there's relatively little difference. After paying for everything out your own pocket which the state pays for here (with our tax money of course), the average American is left with a lot less disposable income, but since prices are lower in the US that income goes further. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.