Mind you that the cost of living in Berlin is nowhere near the cost of living in the Valley. A 40 square meter flat here costs just around 500€ ( less than 700$). I hear it's about three times as expensive in the valley.
You get plenty of restaurants around for less than 10€.
Other note: medical insurance is mandatory and covered by your taxes. It just doesn't make sense to compare salaries like this, you need to compare what you get for it.
Note: I'm working for a young startup in Berlin, my girlfriend might have to refuse a postdoc in the states as I wouldn't be allowed to follow her because of VISAs problems.
NYC & SF are silly compared to the rest of the USA. I can go live in Seattle for that rent when I was there 3 years ago. I don't get state income tax either, which further increases my income. I have cheap, quick, direct flights to NYC & SF from Seattle too. Austin is probably a similar situation.
It is propertinal to your income up to a limit (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze 2014: 48.600 EUR). It is capped there around 600€ per month. Half of it is payed by the employer and not deducted from your income before taxes. If you reach that limit you may also apply for a cheaper so called private insurance.
You get plenty of restaurants around for less than 10€. Other note: medical insurance is mandatory and covered by your taxes. It just doesn't make sense to compare salaries like this, you need to compare what you get for it.
Note: I'm working for a young startup in Berlin, my girlfriend might have to refuse a postdoc in the states as I wouldn't be allowed to follow her because of VISAs problems.