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The United States and European countries sometimes feel worlds apart. And it’s a natural thing for different nations to develop unique cultures, systems, and institutions. But once you start traveling a bit more broadly, you start comparing your destinations. Each place has its upsides and downsides, but the differences can be striking at times.
Redditor u/TREE__FR0G, an aspiring herpetologist, asked people to share the things that are completely normal in most places in Europe but would seem very strange to someone living in the US. Scroll down to see what the internet thinks are the biggest differences between Europe and the US.
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#1
Providing healthcare to sick people without bankrupting them.
Karmageddon 1 year ago
If anyone tells you how difficult Universal Health Care is to do, remind them that only 35/36 of the largest economies can make it work.
#2
Prices already includes taxes
Jane No Dough 1 year ago
Should be this way everywhere, so no one's surprised by the full cost. I know what is taxable and how much tax where I live, but not where I travel.
#3
Nudeness.
No, we don't all walk around naked all day.
Yes, we have nude beaches. Yes, on most regular lakes where people go swimming, you most likely see their little kids running around nekkid. Yes, most saunas are "nude only". Yes, you see boobs, a*s and penis on TV (like, if there's a movie and the situation "demands" it). Yes, we have sex education where they use books with images of naked humans in school.
It's just a body. And no, nude doesn't mean "sex!!1!".
A major peculiar aspect of life in the States is the existing tipping culture. As we’ve explained on Bored Panda recently, one of the issues with the way the culture exists in its current form is that it tricks some consumers into paying more than they planned to. In essence, Americans are falling victim to tip inflation or tipflation.
As a result, some customers might decide to boycott some chains or local restaurants, preferring to go elsewhere, where they feel less pressure to tip extremely generously. If tipping is mandatory, it’s not really tipping, now is it? It’s just a hidden tax—one that might not be reflected in the menu.
#4
I’m a project manager in the US and it baffles me that my European team gets an entire month off in the summer.
I’m over here saving my vacation days incase I get sick.
#5
dd/mm/yyyy
SingingCatMom 1 year ago
SO sensible and completely logical. Also, meters, kilometers, degrees Celcius. It is just plain stupid that the US clings to imperial when nearly all the rest of the world is on metric!
Another big issue for many Americans living in the US is the abhorrent healthcare system. It’s not just a question of opinion, though. The system is very inefficient, incredibly expensive, and markedly worse than in other developed nations. It’s a major issue that ought to be solved.
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation explains how the US spends more on healthcare per person than other wealthy countries around the world. This came to an average of $12,555 per person in 2022, the highest among developed nations. The second-highest spending was recorded in Switzerland, standing at $8,049 per person. Now compare that to the average for OECD countries (excluding the US) which is $6,414 per capita.
#9
Walkable cities
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Portland, Oregon, Boston Massachusetts, New York City. There are a few who have it figured out. The rest of the country is living in the dark ages if Mid 20th century car centered life.
Meanwhile, Germany spent $8,011 per person on healthcare in 2022. The Netherlands spent $7,358, Belgium clocked in at $6,600, France stood at $6,517, and Sweden shelled out $6,438 per person. Ireland spent $6,047, slightly below the OECD average. As did the United Kingdom ($5,493 per person) and Italy (merely $4,291 per person).
All in all, healthcare prices in the US are roughly twice as big as the average. However, this does not mean that Americans get healthcare that is ‘twice as good.’ There’s an issue with how these funds are utilized. For one, there’s a lack of competition between hospitals, which has led to administrative waste and inefficiencies in the entire system.
#10
taking an ambulance without a worry in the world
Sven Grammersdorf 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure anyone taking an ambulance ride has at least one thing to be worried about
#11
Online bank transfers. Americans get all excited over stuff like Venmo but I can send money to anyone via my online banking app for free.
#12
Cashiers having chairs
Turnip and a Frog 1 year ago
Cashiers in the US stand all day? I had no idea. What do the trade unions have to say about this?
“The United States spends over $900 per person on administrative costs—four times more than the average of other wealthy countries and about the same as we spend on preventive or long-term healthcare,” the Foundation notes.
Furthermore, the American healthcare system leads to worse health outcomes (e.g. life expectancy, unmanaged diabetes) than in other wealthy countries.
#14
6 weeks vacation
Show Thyself 1 year ago
Okay - it should say "Up to" etc. - the timeframe differs greatly between the regions, thee workplaces, the disablement status, the age, the experience, the time of your employment....
#15
The hugest mindf**k for me is the maternity leave. An entire, paid year?! I get that they can channel more money into that stuff since the US has military needs paid for, but that’s still pretty impressive.
OhnoI’vebeencensored 1 year ago
The issue isn’t the US’s military budget, although this is higher than is typical in Europe. The issue is that US government is hamstrung by ‘conservatives’ who are simply misogynists who won’t recognise that maternity leave is hugely beneficial for mother and child, and that supporting mothers results in better long-term economic outcomes.
#16
Go to the grocery store on your bicycle.
Walking from shop to shop in the city centre.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
I live in Portland, Oregon and haven't driven a car in almost 20 years. I have a dedicated shopping bike I use one a week and all winter. It's the bike with fenders. I can carry two shopping bags home at a time and that's how I control my spending.
#17
Taking your own shopping bag(s) to the supermarket.
Totally normalized in all European countries as far as I know. Or buy a (firm) shopping bag at the store if you don't have one with you.
All those plastic bags in US stores, so small that it can only hold two cans of milk so you see customers with a dozen plastic bags for their groceries.. unthinkable in Europe.
#18
Not wearing shoes in our homes.
Sea Squirrel 1 year ago
I'm from the Netherlands and most people I know don't mind if you wear shoes in their homes. It's a personal choice, not a cultural thing.
#19
Mayo with french fries.
I’m in the US but have cousins in Holland. They introduced me to to this years ago and it’s pretty awesome.
#20
Coalition governments
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
YES!!! Seriously I am so sick of a two party system! Democrats and Republicans BOTH suck! How did we get stuck with this BS?
#21
Work Life Balance
Going to Europe and then coming back to Texas and visiting our corporate offices in Dublin, London, Paris.
Yes the European working hours are different. But it seems there’s more of a balance and respect for personal time and medical time or absence. Vs in America working yourself to the bone.
Also the absence of Tipping, and availability of metro and being able to conveniently walk where you need to get to. 1 mile in Europe feels shorter than the 1 mile walk in USA hahaha sidewalk availability and lack of parks to cut through etc.
YoKon93 1 year ago
This is very noticeable. Most Europeans have a far greater respect of the life part of the Work Life balance, and so this is seen reflected in cultural norms and often laws. (For example, try to go shopping in Germany on a Sunday or see the consequences of non-emergency work-related 'phone calls outside standard office hours.)
#22
trains
Chris D'Asta 1 year ago
We have trains. Yeah, this country is backward as f**k but we have goddamned trains.
#23
The right to roam.
It's glorious to be able to hike across private land when you grow up used to signs saying "Trespassers will be shot."
#24
Unlocked phones.
When I lived in the US it was hard for me to get around the idea that I couldn't use the phone that I bought with AT&T with a SIM card from T-Mobile. In Europe I interchange my SIM cards with zero problems. I can even change my provider and keep the same number and of course the same phone.
#25
Legally enshrined right to online privacy
LillieMean 1 year ago
I'm curious how this differs from eu legislation. For example, the app store must clearly state how data is collected and how it is used. Sites can be prohibited from collecting data and the use of cookies can be adjusted manually. Apps can be denied access to, for example, the camera, messages or gallery if you want.
#26
Roundabouts. They're like the rotary phones of the road - Americans look at them in utter confusion and wonder where to dial.
#27
Biking, public transportation, walking in the city, basically not living life centered around driving a car.
Sven Grammersdorf 1 year ago
The United States has an extremely low population density. When you live 25 miles from the nearest Walmart and there's nothing in between except corn and soybean fields, you need a car.
#29
Mandatory recycling
#31
E-government, being able to do 99% of the things needed online.
Bored Templar 1 year ago
This one is also not true. It depends on the country. Some countries in Europe are still very, very bureaucratic
#32
More people are day drinking in Europe than I have ever seen in America.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Please come visit us on the West Coast. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and LA know how to day drink.
#34
Inter country travel. I don't even live on the main European land mass. I live on a European island. But I can fly to most European countries in under four hours. And it's not a million euro to do so.
#35
Having your washing machine in your kitchen.
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
European houses are small, often no room to incorporate separate laundry room.
#36
Paying to use a toilet.
Sven Grammersdorf 1 year ago
"The Committee to End Pay Toilets in America, or CEPTIA, was a 1970s grass-roots political organization which was one of the main forces behind the elimination of pay toilets in many American cities and states." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_to_End_Pay_Toilets_in_America
#37
Well, in some countries, having a monarchy (UK, Denmark + the Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Leichtenstein, Monaco, technically also Andorra and Vatican City) or even a quasi-monarchy (Romania, Serbia, where the monarchies have a sort-of-official role while still being a Republic).
Also, having a religion tax (which you can opt out of if you formally leave the Church or other religious organisation if there's an option for it to go to a non-Christian one), in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Spain (as a choice of where your tax goes, doesn't change the overall amount) and some cantons of Switzerland. And having a particular state or established Church (England, Scotland, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland) or national/"people's" Church (Sweden, Norway).
#38
Electric kettles.
PlatinumThe8-BitCat 1 year ago
Again, I’ve seen a lot of electric kettles in the Us, I even have one
#39
being able to tilt open your windows
in usa your windows only open like doors, i couldnt imagibe living in a house lacking such basic features as tilting open the top of the window
#40
Not really an unknown concept but letting cats go outside and roam around. It's just the norm in the UK.
SingingCatMom 1 year ago
A majority of veterinarians in the UK now recommend keeping cats indoors. Also,the UK does not have coyotes...who would just as soon kill your cat than look at it.
What do you think ?
Marco Richter 1 year ago
I am european and this is getting quiet boring. There's nothing new in this articles and our american friens pretty much know what their country is lacking. No need to check if they still remember it... You know it is called bullying to constantly put someone down?! Can we please have more posts that show the good and beautiful sides of america? I know there is a lot to cover.
FromageFeet 1 year ago
Agreed, I’m European too and it’s always the same weekly ‘Americans do it wrong’ post. That’s probably enough now.
Load More Replies...
Rostit . 1 year ago
is it Monthly? I thought it was biweekly but I am known to be wrong quite often.
Load More Replies...
The Original Bruno 1 year ago
Reposting the same hatred again, Bored Panda? How many times are you going to recycle the b******t?
Marco Richter 1 year ago
I am european and this is getting quiet boring. There's nothing new in this articles and our american friens pretty much know what their country is lacking. No need to check if they still remember it... You know it is called bullying to constantly put someone down?! Can we please have more posts that show the good and beautiful sides of america? I know there is a lot to cover.
FromageFeet 1 year ago
Agreed, I’m European too and it’s always the same weekly ‘Americans do it wrong’ post. That’s probably enough now.
Load More Replies... Rostit . 1 year ago
is it Monthly? I thought it was biweekly but I am known to be wrong quite often.
Load More Replies... The Original Bruno 1 year ago
Reposting the same hatred again, Bored Panda? How many times are you going to recycle the b******t?
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