United StatesCountry profile
Largest economy with high salaries but complex immigration, expensive healthcare, and wide regional variation.
- Avg salary
- $67,442
- ≈ €58,000
- 2.9%
- Monthly cost
- $2,907
- 1.8%
- Effective tax
- 16.3%
- 10% to 37% federal + 0-13.3% state
- Visa difficulty
- High
- PR timeline
- 3-10+ years (employer-sponsored Green Card; EB-2/EB-3 backlogs vary by nationality)
- Citizenship
- 5 years after Green Card (3 if married to US citizen)
- Affordability
- 193
- salary ÷ cost
- Est. savings
- €18,546/yr
- after tax & cost
- Happiness
- 6.52/10
- #24 · Above average
Salary by experience (software engineer)
Junior (0–2yr)
$60,465
≈ €52,000
Mid (3–7yr)
$83,721
≈ €72,000
Senior (8+yr)
$127,907
≈ €110,000
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7-year trends
How United States has changed since 2019
Monthly cost of living
Visa processing time (days)
Rent index (2020 = 100)
Immigration pipeline
Path to United States citizenship
Residency requirement: 5 years as permanent resident (3 if married to US citizen). Based on USCIS.gov official processing times, boundless.com.
Fastest
5 mo
Average
12 mo
Slowest
29 mo
N-400 filing
0–1 months · avg 0.5 months
Biometrics appointment
1–4 months · avg 2 months
Interview
3–18 months · avg 8 months
Civics test (100 questions, must answer 6/10) + English test at interview
Oath ceremony
0.5–6 months · avg 1.5 months
Processing varies by USCIS field office (6-18 months from N-400 to oath). Must pass civics and English tests. Employer-sponsored green card processing averages 3.4 years (Cato Institute, 2025). EB-2/EB-3 backlogs for India/China can exceed 10+ years due to per-country caps.
Source: USCIS.gov official processing times, boundless.com · Last updated: 2026-08
Immigration Timeline Details
Detailed processing times, office comparisons, and community data for United States.
Who lives here
Immigrant population in United States
50.2M foreign-born residents (14.8% of the population). Data from US Census Bureau / ACS 2024 / Pew Research Center.
Top nationalities
Cities with most immigrants
New York37.2% foreign-born
Top nationalities: Dominican Republic, China, Mexico
Los Angeles34.8% foreign-born
Top nationalities: Mexico, Philippines, El Salvador
Miami41.5% foreign-born
Top nationalities: Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela
San Francisco35.1% foreign-born
Top nationalities: China, Philippines, India
Houston28.4% foreign-born
Top nationalities: Mexico, India, Vietnam
Chicago20.8% foreign-born
Top nationalities: Mexico, Poland, India
Total population
340.0M
Foreign-born
50.2M
% of population
14.8%
Quality of life
Happiness in United States
Ranked #24 globally with a score of 6.52/10. Source: World Happiness Report 2025.
Score breakdown
6.52
out of 10 · Above average
Global rank #24 of 143 countries
Strongest factor
GDP
Weakest factor
Generosity
Tax system
How taxes work in United States
Income tax range: 10% to 37% federal + 0-13.3% state. Effective rate on average salary: ~16.3%.
Tax on average salary (€58,000)
Gross annual€58,000
Estimated income tax−€9,454
Annual cost of living−€30,000
Estimated annual savings€18,546
Tax 16%Cost 52%Savings 32%
Savings by experience level
junior — $60,465/yr€13,888/yr saved
mid — $83,721/yr€29,184/yr saved
senior — $127,907/yr€55,910/yr saved
Income Tax Brackets (Single Filer)
| Income Range | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10.0% |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | 12.0% |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | 22.0% |
| $105,700 – $201,775 | 24.0% |
| $201,775 – $256,225 | 32.0% |
| $256,225 – $640,600 | 35.0% |
| $640,600+ | 37.0% |
+ 7.6% social contributions (on first €184,500)
Standard deduction: $16,100
Source: IRS.gov / SSA.gov / OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, July 2025) · 2026
Tax Notes
- Federal tax only — state taxes add 0-13.3% depending on state (CA 1-13.3%, TX 0%, NY 4-10.9%, FL 0%).
- FICA: 6.2% Social Security (capped at $184,500 for 2026) + 1.45% Medicare (uncapped). Additional 0.9% Medicare surtax above $200k single.
- TCJA rates (10-37%) made permanent by One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025.
- Child Tax Credit: $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 (OBBBA, up from $2,000, now indexed to inflation).
- Standard deduction: $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly) for 2026.
- State tax examples: California 1-13.3%, Texas 0%, New York 4-10.9%, Florida 0%, Washington 0% (but 7% capital gains).
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 for 2026 (up from $176,100 in 2025). Source: SSA.gov
Special Regimes for Expats
- • Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): $132,900 for 2026 (up from $130,000 in 2025). Requires bona fide residence or physical presence test. Source: IRS, smartasset.com
Child allowance: $2,200 per child/year
Compare tax across all countriesVisa routes
Visa options for United States
Available visa categories and who they suit.
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Skilled professionals with bachelor's degree
Annual cap 85,000. Wage-weighted lottery since FY2027. $100K fee proclamation (Sep 2025). Employer sponsorship required.
L-1 Intracompany Transfer
Managers and specialists transferring within company
No lottery. Requires 1 year at foreign office. L-1A (managers) up to 7 years, L-1B (specialists) up to 5 years.
O-1 Extraordinary Ability
Individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement
No annual cap. Requires evidence of sustained national/international acclaim.
F-1 Student Visa
Full-time students at SEVP-certified schools
OPT allows 12 months work (36 for STEM). Can transition to H-1B.
Useful links
Popular platforms in United States
Sites most expats use for housing, jobs, insurance, banking, and utilities.
💼
Find a job
🏥
Health insurance
⚡
Set up utilities
🏦
Open a bank account
Working here
Job market & language in United States
Language requirement: English
Job market insights
- Tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering dominate high-salary roles.
- Major hubs: San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Austin, Boston.
- Visa sponsorship limits job options significantly.
Healthcare
Employer-based private insurance (no universal public system)
Language
English
Housing
Housing in United States
Renting
- Credit history and SSN often required for lease applications.
- Security deposits typically 1-2 months rent.
- Rental markets vary dramatically by city and neighborhood.
Buying
- No restrictions on foreign buyers in most states.
- Property taxes vary significantly by state and county.
- Mortgage pre-approval needed before house hunting.
Safety
Common scams and practical checks
Common scams
- Fake university acceptance letters and I-20 fraud.
- Social security number phishing targeting international students.
- Fraudulent OPT/CPT processing services.
Practical checks
- Verify school SEVP certification on ICE website.
- Use only university DSO for immigration documents.
- Never share SSN via email or phone.
Education
Schools & education in United States
Overview
Public schools are free and assigned by district. Private and charter options vary widely.
Admissions tips
- School quality varies enormously by district — research before choosing housing.
- Immunization records and proof of address required.
- ESL programs available in most public school districts.
Getting settled
First month checklist
Utilities to set up
- 1Electricity and gas provider setup
- 2Internet and cable service
- 3Water and sewage (often through landlord)
- 4Renter's insurance (often required by lease)
First 30 days
- 1Apply for Social Security Number
- 2Open US bank account
- 3Get state ID or driver's license
- 4Set up health insurance
- 5Register for mobile phone plan
Pros and cons
Living in United States
Pros
- Highest salaries globally for skilled roles — tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering pay significantly more than Europe
- Massive and diverse job market — more opportunities across more industries than any other single country
- World-class universities and research institutions — unmatched for career development and networking
- Entrepreneurial culture and access to venture capital — the US startup ecosystem is the largest globally
- Geographic and cultural diversity — from coastal cities to mountain towns, with varied climates and lifestyles
- No language barrier for English speakers — immediate access to all services, media, and professional networks
Cons
- Immigration system is complex and slow — H-1B lottery, green card backlogs of 5–15+ years for some nationalities
- Healthcare is expensive without employer coverage — a single ER visit can cost thousands of dollars
- No universal social safety net — limited paid parental leave, no mandated vacation days, and at-will employment in most states
- Gun violence and safety concerns vary significantly by city and neighborhood
- Student loan debt and high education costs if pursuing US degrees
- Work culture can be intense — longer hours and fewer protections compared to European labor standards
Community data
Community trackers and resources
Immigration timelines, salary surveys, and other data collected by expat communities.
PERM Processing Time Tracker
Tracks PERM labor certification processing times — currently 462–478 days in 2025. Essential for employment-based green card applicants.
Updated with DOL dataPERM Update
USCIS Official Processing Times
Official processing times for all USCIS forms — I-485, I-140, I-130, N-400, and more. Searchable by form type and service center.
USCIS
USCIS Historic Processing Times
Historical processing time data from USCIS going back several years. Useful for spotting trends and planning timelines.
USCIS
Visa Bulletin Tracker
Tracks when immigrant visa numbers become available by preference category and country. Critical for employment-based and family-based green card applicants.
VisaVerge
VisaVerge — Immigration Resources Hub
Curated collection of official government immigration portals for the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Processing time trackers and visa bulletin data.
VisaVerge
Official links
Government & official resources
Compare United States
Compare United States with other countries side by side.
Financial planner
Calculate your budget, taxes, and savings in United States.