They've been incentivizing it for years. Talent passport, EU Blue card and the Tech Visa. As I have heard they'll pay you to move there.

Expect 50% salary and taxes that will make your eyes water. French bureaucracy is kafkaesque even in 2026.

Other than that I agree I'd love to move there.

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eloisant 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Taxes are not really an issue because of the services you get out of it: free healthcare, free education for your kids, etc.

But yes, salary before taxes is much lower than in the US. If your goal is to make as much money as possible, either stay in US or move to a different European country (Northern Europe or Switzerland).

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nxm 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

As a software engineer in the US you're not really worrying about access to health care, and have access to public schools as well.

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traceroute66 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> As a software engineer in the US you're not really worrying about access to health care

You're "not really worrying" ... whilst you are in a job.

There fixed that for you.

As I am sure you are acutely aware US is the home of lay-offs and is generally easy to fire people.

If you loose your job in the US it becomes panic stations because you loose that precious employer-paid healthcare overnight.

Meanwhile in Europe ? Take your time job hunting a new job, healthcare is still free.

	▲	adev_ 13 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> Meanwhile in Europe ? Take your time job hunting a new job, healthcare is still free. Currently, healthcare coverage tend to be better in several European countries when you are jobless... because the system try to compensate the fact you do not have income anymore. Don't get me wrong, their is many 'flaws' in several European healthcare systems and it is far from perfect. but it tends to be more "human" and less "for profit".

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znkynz 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

What happens to your health insurance if you get too sick to work?

	▲	msla 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_and_Medical_Leave_Act_o... > The FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to care for a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or recover from a serious illness. There's limitations on that, but the common idea that Americans don't have healthcare is unfounded and appallingly ignorant.
	▲	lotsofpulp 11 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		The bet is that you will earn enough prior to 50 or maybe even 40 so that you won’t have to work, and then you can live off the investments and wherever you want. High risk, high reward and all that. Although, the previous 20 years of high compensation are obviously no indication of the next 20.

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iamEAP 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I left the US, not because I was worried about healthcare for myself or my family, but because of how I felt it reflected on me that I was fine choosing to stay and cash a large check every month while others around me had to worry about healthcare.

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Insanity 13 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

What if you get laid off?

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belter 13 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

"Health Insurance Is Now More Expensive Than the Mortgage for These Americans" - https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/aca-health-insurance-c...

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toephu2 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

"free"... as in paid for with high taxes

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eb0la 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

But in the other hand you don't have to worry about mass shootings. You can freely walk (mostly) wherever you want without risking your life (that is not normal in most of the world). And you're not going bankrupt because of a minor/medium medical condition.

Europe is a _very_ different place.

Not everything here is so bad.

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rapnie 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> They've been incentivizing it for years.

There is also NGI Sargasso which had EU grants being awarded to collaborations between parties in the EU and the US, working on internet innovation projects. Looks like that funding program has closed. Not sure if these open calls were slashed by the Trump government.

https://ngisargasso.eu/