50,000 sounds like a lot. Most people in West European countries don’t make that much.

The question is still what number people need to live "comfortably" (i.e. upper middle class). The average salary there may not quite provide for the amenities the average American considers "comfortable".

EU average is ~€39.000, gross, before taxes. And only nine countries have above average average salaries.

And that’s not available income. France median pre-tax "net" income is ~€2.100 / month.