is it poorer? richer? better? worse? Is European internet cheaper? are EU food prices outrageous? Is European healthcare better? Is Europe safer?
I like the usually-better public transit systems. You have an advantage over us in that many of your biggest cities were established long before cars even came about, so they are not planned out as car-cities first and foremost. I’m in California where the automobile was a reality by the time most everything was being built. And in those days, people were excited by cars and the liberty they brought. Cars are much more fun when there aren’t too many of them and you have the open landscape before you. So the region I live in was planned as a love letter to cars and now we are living with all the downsides of that model being overloaded.
Obviously the whole picture is more complex than this - European cities have been rebuilt and replanned, sometimes after WW2 mass destruction. But still I think the effect of having an earlier establishment does make a difference in this way.
This is impossible to answer. In one small city (pop c. quarter million) accommodation ranges from about 65k to a couple of million. Ostentatious opulence walks past homeless beggars. Some places have a choice of fibre optic networks whilst others are still using copper wire. (I pay approximately $13 a month for 100gb untethered 5g access, reasonably unlimited fixed access is probably c.$40 p.m.) There’s a choice of food at all qualities and prices. A choice of free public hospitals as well as a private fee-paying one too. There are areas where you can leave your bag on the table as you go to the bar and there are places that not even locals willingly choose to go. A massively mixed bag. The only major difference between Europe and the US (in cities) is that we can walk across ours, in any direction, crossing roads wherever and whenever we want to.
The public spaces seem better maintained than in the USA. Mass transit is also better in general to equivalent American cities. A lot of it feels driven by a relative lack of homelessness in tourist areas combined with continued post war investment in urban areas.
Food seems more expensive in general, but it depends on the country/region.
I’ve never had to deal with EU healthcare besides Covid testing. Turkey is really great for medical tourism.
Europe felt safe in general, but then I feel safe in where I travel in the USA.
Not really a tourist but…
Netherlands, Ireland, and denmark on par for restaurants and bar pricing. Good sourcing is ubiquitously higher quality. Norway expensive restaurants and bars. In general US has better small/micro-breweries.
In EU, women don’t seem as wary of being alone in public or in the presence of masc presenting people. People seem to care less how others present themselves(they’re not offended by eccentric styles). I feel safer in general. America has a bunch of creeps who care that your shirt is pink or your hair is too long for a good Christian.
Healthcare exists. That’s $3k-$10k+ you don’t have to worry about every year.
Public transit exists. Like good public transit. The best systems in the US are garbage in comparison with the exception maybe of NYC. Though US public transit tends to be cheaper.
Can’t speak for Mediterranean or eastern Europe.
Norway … Brewery
What about distillery?
Are you one of those guys that would insist on ham and eggs brekkie even in Israel?
Actually the liquor is quite high quality, almost certainly better in general. My favorites are Irish and Scottish. But i don’t drink much liquor for safety reasons.
Norway has excellent pilsners and ciders. Ireland has a good brewery in dingle (i think) can’t remember name, was in Gaelic. The Finns have mastered the seltzer.
I think the micro brew culture in the US, PNW specifically, just beats the selection available in any one particular region i’ve visited in EU. I’m sure in aggregate EU has a larger selection. I mean, i haven’t been to Germany yet so…
But for example, it’s common to find only 1-2 smaller breweries on tap where I’ve been in EU, but in US it’s common to have several micro brews in any restaurant. Larger breweries are often mid anywhere you go in the world.
Poorer? Some countries. Richer? Some countries. Better? What do you define as better? Worse? Idem. Is European internet cheaper? In some countries. Are EU food prices outrageous? In some countries. Is European healthcare better? Usually, from what I’ve heard. Is Europe safer? In some cities.