A Moogle  🏳️‍🌈 💻 🎮 🎶 🇸🇪

Whoa, now this reply is going to be lengthy and split across multiple tweets. Brace yourself. But the one-word answer? Sweden.

On a macro scale, I have better access to health care, better access to public transport, and generally a better safety net than in the US.

On a micro scale, the tap water is better, the tech industry (games particularly) is huge and getting bigger, and the taxes aren't that bad.

Like, most cost-of-living calculators lack the nuance to do a proper comparison between Sweden and the US, and omit state tax, or SSI.

And then there's the fact that in 3.5yrs of living here, only twice have I said, "Gee, public transportation is insufficient, I need a car."

And in that case, my boyfriend's parents were happy to drive us in their station wagon. Which we needed anyway for the cargo capacity.

My point is, cost-of-living calculators don't factor that in Sthlm you won't need a car payment, or car insurance payment, or fuel budget.