Europeans seem to be happier, healthier, and to have a generally better standard of living than Americans. Small towns in Europe have much more personality than US suburbs, which largely consist of strip mall after strip mall. Food in Europe is focused on quality, whereas in the US the focus is on quantity.

I’m from California, been on various trips around Spain, and France, with under a week spent in both Italy and Switzerland.

I love everywhere I’ve been. I’d be happy to live somewhere in western Europe.

I don’t know if European healthcare is better, but it’s far more civilized in its availability. I haven’t seen much difference between EU and USA for equivalent-quality grocery prices, with the exception of Zurich. I’ve found Europe to be generally safe. There seems to be more “sneaky” crime, whereas the States has more confrontational crime.

Freeway etiquette is far better in France and Spain than California. Trains, of course, are better too.

One major difference is labor laws. The EU has far more protection, but far less mobility. I remember telling a German friend that I had gotten a new job operating a fairly large power system, after working in a tangentially related field, without any additional study or licenses, and his response was “Only in America!” I hadn’t even considered that this move would be far more difficult in other countries.

Once again, Europe is not a single country so all these things vary wildly from country to country.

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.

You know that all these things are vastly different in different countries.

Switzerland is very different to Slovenia and Iceland is not comparable with Italy. Every one has their own healthcare system, police, internet providers.

And while the US is also big and diverse, you still can’t compare one federated country with a Union of independent countries.

Really depends on where you go! Certain parts feel safer, other parts feel less safe (or less comfortable to walk through safely). I’m not going to name names, as I’ve only been to various countries for a bit at a time, it would be unfair to pass judgement on entire nations based off a small experience.

The public transit is usually a cut above. Some of the driving feels dangerous. The food prices are somewhat expensive, but the food is generally less UPF-laced.

The more relaxed culture around nudity is refreshing. The lack of large, wild parks is a bit disappointing (or perhaps we missed these entirely), but various nations seem to be catching on to rewilding. The history is fascinating, and europeans generally think much more long-term than Americans, but the bad blood also runs deep, which is a little worrying. I’m glad the EU keeps everyone together.

Overall, it’s fun to visit, it generally feels safe, cultured, and the transit is very great, particularly the train systems. It has it’s problems just like other places in Africa, North America, and Central America.

If I had to live in a non-english speaking country, I’d probably pick Spain. Wonderful people, great transit, a relaxed culture, and excellent food, though France and Germany give Spain a run for their money on several of these points.

As an American who has been to the EU I can say with certainty that each one of those factors changes within an hour drive from my home. Making them a US v EU debate on an individual scale is meaningless. There’s nice parts and bad parts of both.

The EU is big and varied so I think that’s a pretty broad question. I did visit a few countries but was too poor as a young adult to move to any. I moved to Japan later in life. If I had it to do again, I would probably pick Norway or maybe Finland.

Better - I don’t give a shit about richer/poorer because the quality of life is clearly higher and that’s the only reason to care about wealth.

Food prices are extremely reasonable and often below American prices.

European cities are also safer not because there isn’t crime but because the design creates a lot more continuous safe spaces where there are plenty of witnesses and other folks.

Lastly, European Healthcare is much better in terms of cost and quality but if you need something that you can’t get done or done in a timely fashion it’s harder to afford health care tourism.

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.

Depends where you go.

Western Europe is pretty safe tourism wise.
Further south you go cheaper things are.
internet, food, and healthcare is also per country.

Poorer? No. Richer? Also no. Cheaper? Some things, like housing and wine. Other things, same or more expensive (such as electronics) Healthcare was at least as good but easier to get into.

I was constantly surprised just how normal/at home I felt. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Went to Iceland a few years ago and the biggest thing I noticed was how clean everything was. In the US, at least where I am, trash is literally part of the street. Little black “gum” streaks, random paper flying about…

I don’t remember ever seeing any litter of any kind anywhere we went on the island.

I do remember seeing a random piece of raw meat on a meadow but that was it and I’m not sure I’d call that litter.

Worse, often felt dangerous. One of my friends got pickpocketed, police did nothing. Made the entire trip hard to enjoy when you knew that someone was looking for an opening to steal your phone or wallet.

If it wasn’t for that, I’d probably had liked it, but I just felt like a target.

In the end, big waste of money. 1/10 would not do again.

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.