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Original poster

Best living standards in Europe?

35 replies

FairyLightPups · 03/04/2022 19:35

So obviously at the moment the UK is going up in flames a bit. Crappy government, broken healthcare, education system not great, everything is super expensive...

So what country actually does tick every box, in Western Europe? Great education, great standard of living, a functioning healthcare system, a government that cares? Or are we wishing after something that doesn't currently exist?

OP posts:
GoldenLightNights · 03/04/2022 19:40

I often think Switzerland or Sweden would be a really lovely places to live. No evidence at all, it’s a feeling, they just seem to have good vibes.

Rifling · 03/04/2022 19:41

I'm in Italy. It's far from perfect but I think I probably have a higher standard of living than I would in the UK (although I would probably think differently if I was starting out looking for a job now). We have to pay for some health services but generally I feel the standard of healthcare is good, if a bit unfriendly sometimes.

fridaRose · 03/04/2022 19:44

Sweden. Visited ten years ago, if I spoke the language I'd have emigrated there in a heartbeat.

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General education
Rachelw84 · 03/04/2022 19:51

There’s something called the Quality of Life Index that calculates the best place to live based on a variety of factors, these are the top 10 places in Europe for 2022

Rank, City, Country, Score
1 - Zurich, Switzerland - 200.89
2 - Basel, Switzerland - 195.79
3 - Geneva, Switzerland - 193.01
4 - The Hague, Netherlands - 191.44
5 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - 188.10
6 - Copenhagen, Denmark - 185.34
7 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom - 182.05
8 - Dusseldorf, Germany - 182.03
9 - Vienna, Austria - 181.79
10 - Reykjavik, Iceland - 181.50

yellowsuninthesky · 03/04/2022 20:08

Finland. Not as expensive as eg Switzerland but I get the impression everything works quite well.

Lndnmummy · 03/04/2022 20:14

Sweden

FatCatThinCat · 03/04/2022 20:23

I'm in Sweden and can confirm that the standard of living here is extremely high compared to the UK. Especially if you have children.

moonbedazzled · 03/04/2022 20:28

Yeah, I like Sweden. The king invited me in to dance in his castle and the museum in Stockholm gave me a biscuit half price because I didn't have enough money.
So they're very kind people and I have a soft spot the country. But couldn't live there. It's too cold.

dontcallmelen · 03/04/2022 20:29

@FatCatThinCat do you think it’s because in Sweden they have a very different mindset on regard to services/resources have to be paid for properly via I presume higher taxation but in return they have a good standard of living for everyone.

Rifling · 03/04/2022 20:38

The king invited me in to dance in his castle and the museum in Stockholm gave me a biscuit half price because I didn't have enough money.
We need to know more! I like Italy because of the people (mainly) but I think I am better suited to a country with high taxation, great public services and as small a gap as possible between rich and poor.

BertieBotts · 03/04/2022 20:41

Germany is pretty nice. It's not perfect, the school system is a bit old fashioned although in some ways better than the UK, however really shit for special needs and you can't home educate if you want to.

Medical system works except that there's a three month wait for everything, including emergencies - they'll patch you up so you're not bleeding and then you have to phone around for your own MRI, surgery etc which can take weeks Confused I never understand this part. But as long as you don't have any accidents it's great!

Justanotherlurker · 03/04/2022 21:33

If you think it is just the UK that is going up in flames then you are not really aware of the situation.

As for QOL indexes it ignores the balances you need to understand between nations, the UK for one could move up the ranks in QOL by reforming the NHS to a more European model, but to get there it would have to go through multiple online slactivists flooding boards such as mumsent saying it would turn into an american style health care.

Over the past 2 years Sweden was kind of ignored as when they openly just wanted covid 'to rip' through the system.

There isn't a simple answer to where is the grass greener question, and it's really simplistic to think that the UK is unique situation of being in a bad place, remember this is the place that had thouseands of people 'in the know' re brexit and how their DH in finance was already moving abroad...

I have German and Swedish friends actually looking to move to the UK to weather the storm, there really is no binary choice and difficult topics are going to have to be discussed across the whole of europe over the next few years, doesn;t matter if it's Lab or Con who run the country the black swan of the world wide economy has happened and there isn't a simple fix here or in any other country.

JungleBungles · 03/04/2022 21:37

Finland
Sweden
Switzerland

3 places I’d move to…sadly I don’t think it would happen

NrlySp · 03/04/2022 21:40

I’m in Switzerland. Quality of life is excellent. It’s also very expensive (apart from wine) and the Swiss are not massively friendly. It’s also tougher being a child here. But very outdoorsy and beautiful weather in the summer)

Wallywobbles · 03/04/2022 21:48

I'm in France. It's a great place to bring up kids. Good cheap childcare. Very affordable for both parents to keep working. Good schooling in general. Big kids play with little kids. Can normally see a doctor within 48 hours. It's not perfect but it's pretty good.

FatCatThinCat · 03/04/2022 21:54

[quote dontcallmelen]@FatCatThinCat do you think it’s because in Sweden they have a very different mindset on regard to services/resources have to be paid for properly via I presume higher taxation but in return they have a good standard of living for everyone.[/quote]
Definitely. There's a much stronger cohesion within the community. Like with kids, they don't have the mindset that they're your kids and therefore your responsibility. It's much more that they the community's children and therefore we, as a community do what we can to give them the best life we can.

FatCatThinCat · 03/04/2022 22:01

Over the past 2 years Sweden was kind of ignored as when they openly just wanted covid 'to rip' through the system.

That's not true at all. We've had restrictions and home working and social distancing and shutdowns just like everywhere else. The only difference is that much of it has been recommendations rather than law. But that is because Swedes are exceptionally compliant and health conscious and will follow the recommendations because they trust those making them.

Justanotherlurker · 03/04/2022 22:15

That's not true at all. We've had restrictions and home working and social distancing and shutdowns just like everywhere else. The only difference is that much of it has been recommendations rather than law. But that is because Swedes are exceptionally compliant and health conscious and will follow the recommendations because they trust those making them.

I think you are living in a bubble in what has actually happend, I know you have done an AMA and think you are some authoritive source on the subject but from a UK perspective of the UK not locking down hard enough Sweden had no restrictions and was actually letting it rip, I am going to ignore the 'trust in those making them' comment as that is a very recent immigrant perspective into the internal issues going on over there and is glossing over a multitude of internal issues that are bubbling up at the minute.

Pinklimey · 03/04/2022 22:18

When I was in Sweden, admittedly many years ago, I stayed in a youth hostel in Stockholm. I met some ladies who were living there as there was not enough housing to go around. Hopefully been sorted by now, but just to say not everywhere is as perfect as it looks.

NeedleNoodle3 · 03/04/2022 22:20

I’m happy in England, it’s been kind to me.

cakeorwine · 03/04/2022 22:22

Everytime I've been to the Netherlands, that seems pretty good.

Northern Europe in general seems to have higher living standards than the UK. But that's just my experience as a tourist.

Fiefofum · 03/04/2022 22:32

Netherlands! I have a Dutch DP. Just far more sorted as a country. I am always shocked when I visit at (1) how smiley everyone is walking down the street; (2) how clean and maintained it is; (3) how healthy looking people are (75 year olds cycling everywhere not hobbling on sticks etc). I think coalition governments make the politics less mental too. Direct communication can be a bit of a shock at first but you know where you are and not as neurotic in terms of speaking in coded passive aggression. Much more relaxed and progressive re family and female empowerment.

Less good stuff: fashion, romance, music. Gardens are just a bit too tidy! Not a lot of wilderness areas. Stairs are far too steep!

Fiefofum · 03/04/2022 22:34

DP likes the UK better though - less homogenous he says!

Chickenkatsu · 03/04/2022 22:37

I lived in Switzerland for a few years and I'm much happier back in England.

Posters like this were everywhere, it's from their most popular party.

Best living standards in Europe?
Bionicname · 03/04/2022 22:49

Housing in the UK is noticeably worse than in other European countries I’ve lived in - much of it terrible quality, badly maintained, very little insulation.,, and expensive! This makes a big difference to the quality of everyday life, and is acutely noticeable in terms of extortionate energy bills.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France… all have much better build quality in my experience.

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