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One thing to remember is that the cost of housing in the US is a fraction of what it is here. That is a broad generalisation (rural vs urban) but land is not in short supply in the US, so costs are lower.
I'd be interested to understand how the need for personal transport factors into that for spending power. (Car ownership mandatory due to no limited public transport).
Aroogah-
But you've also got to factor in insurance.
While I'm not up on the tax rates in different states, when I was there I was quite surprised by how high tax was for lower and middle income brackets.
Very anecdotal by overall my takeaway vs the UK was; 1. Wages are generally higher, 2. Tax for the majority of people is the same, 3. Cost of housing is cheaper and bigger, 4. Cost of groceries (assuming not pure junk and meat) is much higher. 5. Other than clothes, cost of goods is higher (obviously some exceptions with US products/Apple/etc.)
If you're a an upper-middle or higher earner I think you probably end up with a better deal because you both get paid more gross and pay less tax. For everyone else, I'm not so sure.
If course the USA is huge there's as much variation as you'd get in Europe.
hugo7
That is grim.