The American Dream costs more than most Europeans think
The American Dream: limitless opportunity and freedom. That's the picture. The reality? A shrinking middle class and soaring costs for rent, healthcare and education. The story of Mariadeliz shows that an income that would be comfortable in Europe barely covers survival in the USA. If you're planning the move, treat this as a wake-up call: the dream is alive, but it demands a higher price than ever.
There is a myth with an almost magical pull on people all over the world, especially those of us who grew up in countries of rules, security and well-trodden paths. It's the American Dream: the promise that anyone, whatever their background, can achieve unlimited success through sheer willpower and hard work. It's the dishwasher who becomes a millionaire; the promise of boundless freedom and endless possibility in a country that rewards ambition like no other.
If you're reading this, you may be toying with the idea of leaving your life at home behind to chase exactly that dream. You see the innovation of Silicon Valley, the power of Wall Street, the wide-open landscapes that seem to breathe freedom. But before you pack your bags, there's another American reality you need to know about. One you rarely see in glossy brochures or Hollywood films: the reality of the American middle class. Because the engine of this dream, the foundation it once rested on, is broken.
This isn't opinion. It's fact, backed by cold, hard data. A fresh and unsparing analysis in the Wall Street Journal from August 31, 2025, titled "The Middle-Class Vibe Has Shifted From Secure to Squeezed", is a crucial wake-up call. For anyone considering a move to the USA, this article isn't distant economic analysis; it's required reading. It pulls back the curtain on the uncomfortable truth about the economic landscape you would be stepping into.
The data comes as a shock to anyone who believes in the strength of the American economy. Consumer confidence is collapsing. Growing pessimism about the job market means more and more people expect their income to fall. The most striking finding, though, comes from the data analytics firm Morning Consult: while the country's wealthiest remain optimistic, the confidence of the middle class (the engineers, the nurses, the small business owners, the people who should be the backbone of the country) is in free fall. Their economic mood no longer tracks that of the upper class but that of low earners. Chief economist John Leer sums it up starkly: "Then everything fell off a cliff."
The new American life: the story of Mariadeliz
To understand what this means for your potential life in America, let's leave the abstract numbers behind and look at a real person. Meet Mariadeliz Santiago. She's 30, lives in Brooklyn and earns $60,000 a year as an influencer.
By European standards, that's a solid income. You'd picture a good life with financial security and room for extras. In the reality of New York City, though, Mariadeliz fights a daily battle to get by. Her story is a lesson in the brutal American cost structure. Her paid partnerships are being cut, making her income unpredictable. Her life has become an endless exercise in going without. The nail salon? Replaced by cheap nail strips. Eating out with friends? Down from several times a week to once or twice a month.
The most painful sacrifice was cancelling a long-planned trip to Puerto Rico for a concert. The $3,000 cost was suddenly out of reach. She sold the tickets. If you're used to guaranteed paid holiday and a culture of proper rest, that may sound harsh. In America, it's the new normal for millions. It's the loss of small pleasures and cultural life that make life worth living. Her sense of powerlessness ("It almost feels like you don't have control anymore") is the exact opposite of the security and predictability that European welfare systems, for all their flaws, try to provide.
Her story is a warning: a salary that looks impressive on paper can be pulverized by soaring costs for rent, groceries and transport in America's big cities.
Welcome to the two-tier economy
Mariadeliz's situation plays out against the backdrop of a deeply divided nation. If you move to the USA, you have to ask yourself: which of these two Americas will I be entering?
America number 1 belongs to the affluent. Here, $160 On running shoes sell like hotcakes. First and business class seats are booked out months ahead. Luxury sales keep climbing. This is the America you see on TV: shiny, successful and seemingly within everyone's reach.
America number 2 belongs to everyone else. Here, people are struggling. Shoemaker Crocs (around $50 a pair) reports that its core customers are tightening their belts. Budget airlines like Spirit Airlines are struggling. Auto repair shops see people putting off necessary repairs because the money isn't there. Discounters like Dollar General are packed with middle-class shoppers who used to buy at Target or Kohl's. McDonald's is becoming the new family restaurant for those who can no longer afford Applebee's or IHOP.
As an immigrant, even a well-qualified one, there's a high chance you'll find yourself in this second America: an America of constant price comparison, going without, and the nagging worry about whether the money will last until the end of the month.
The system trap: what Europeans need to know
The pressure on the American middle class isn't a passing crisis. It's the result of a system fundamentally different from European welfare states. There are three systemic differences every European considering the move needs to understand:
1. The missing safety net: In much of Europe, you're protected by a web of health, unemployment and pension insurance. In the USA, the safety net is paper-thin. Losing your job often means losing your health insurance immediately. American "at-will" employment allows you to be let go overnight, without the dismissal protection you may be used to at home. The fear of falling through the cracks isn't an abstract risk; it's a constant companion.
2. Soaring costs for the basics:
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Healthcare: This is the most shocking difference. The American system is tied to your employer and extremely expensive. A serious illness or accident can ruin a family financially, even with insurance. Medical bankruptcy is unthinkable for most Europeans. In the USA, it's a sad reality.
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Education: While university is largely free or low-cost in much of Europe, American universities leave graduates with six-figure debt. This "negative start" to working life stifles financial freedom for decades.
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Housing: Rents and property prices in the metro areas where most good jobs are found are astronomical, often eating up 40 to 50% of take-home pay.
3. The illusion of higher pay: High American salaries often lure newcomers. But as Mariadeliz's example shows, that salary has to cover the extremely high costs above, plus private retirement savings (largely state-run in much of Europe). Once all of that is deducted, a seemingly princely salary often leaves you with less than a more modest European one.
A dream with tough terms
So should you give up your American dream? Not necessarily. The USA remains a country of enormous energy, unmatched career opportunities in certain industries and an infectious can-do attitude.
But you have to go in with your eyes wide open. You need to understand that the American Dream today comes with extremely high stakes. It rewards the winners spectacularly, but offers hardly any safety net for those who stumble. The freedom it promises is often the freedom to be on your own.
The story of America's shrinking middle class is a warning. It shows that hard work and a good income no longer guarantee security and prosperity. Moving up is harder than ever, and sliding down is a constant, real threat. For you as someone moving to the USA, that means the American Dream today comes down above all to the cost of housing, healthcare and education, which you should weigh honestly against your expected salary before you move.
So before you book your ticket, read the Wall Street Journal article. Understand the numbers. And ask yourself honestly whether you're ready to trade the security you have at home for the American opportunity, with all its glorious possibilities and all its brutal risks. The American Dream still exists, but its price has never been higher.
To see how the costs add up in practice, read our articles on the cost of living when moving to the USA and on the daily life of a family living on little money in the USA; you'll find more articles under News.
Consultation & implementation
If you'd like to find out what this means for your own situation, the best step is to book a consultation.
