No, the average cost of living is lower because wages are lower.
No, cost of living in China is lower because the quality of life is lower.
Wages are also way lower in my country the Netherlands than wages in the US, but no way I'd say we have a worse quality of life.
That’s great, but I’m talking about China, not the Netherlands.
Even if average quality of life is worse in China than in the US, that doesn't mean it's 6 times worse. That's a ridiculous claim to make.
I would say it’s a perfectly acceptable claim to make, although the exact number is obviously purely subjective.
The average Chinese has a comparable life with the average American in terms of quality of life.
No it’s not. Compare the size of the average house in China (650 sq ft) to the size of the average house in the US (2200 sq ft), let alone the other specs of those houses. Compare where the average Chinese citizen purchases their goods (local markets, street markets, wet markets, etc.) to where the average American purchases their goods (massive department stores, massive grocery stores, Target, etc.) Even the poorest Americans would scoff at the idea of shopping at wet market. Compare the type of job the average Chinese citizen holds to that of the average American, and so on.
If we’re comparing the top 10-20% in each country, I would say the difference isn’t as drastic. But if you’re comparing the citizens in the 30-70% range, the difference is extremely significant. Just compare the number of Americans who immigrate to China versus the number of Chinese who immigrate to America. If the quality of life was comparable, you expect those numbers to at least be relatively comparable, but it’s not even close (even if you account for the home country’s’ populations).
their life expectancy is almost the same as that of the US, etc.
the life expectancy in the US is not lower due to a low quality of life. The life expectancy in the US is lower because we live an extremely unhealthy and extremely sedentary lifestyle, the latter being a sign of very high quality of life (i.e. convenience).
It's not Afghanistan we're talking about here.
I never said it was. The difference between the US and Afghanistan is even more stark.
No, cost of living in China is lower because the quality of life is lower.
Repeating something doesn't make it true. Go ahead and prove how their quality of life is 6 times lower because of lower incomes.
That’s great, but I’m talking about China, not the Netherlands.
Convenient isn't it? I'm pointing out the flaws in your logic using the Netherlands as an example. Incomes clearly don't accurately portray quality of life.
No it’s not. Compare the size of the average house in China (650 sq ft) to the size of the average house in the US (2200 sq ft), let alone the other specs of those houses. Compare where the average Chinese citizen purchases their goods (local markets, street markets, etc.) to where the average American purchases their goods (massive department stores, massive grocery stores, Target, etc.) Compare the type of job the average Chinese citizen holds to that of the average American.
China is a more densily populated country, obviously more people live in apartments than in large houses. That doesn't mean their quality of life is lower. You can have excellent apartments.
Wait, buying from markets is worse than buying from large grocery stores? What are these standards you're making up? Also what evidence do you have that Chinese people buy more from markets than Americans?
If we’re comparing the top 10-20% in each country, I would say the difference isn’t as drastic. But if you’re comparing the citizens in the 30-70% range, the difference is extremely significant. Just compare the number of Americans who immigrate to China versus the number of Chinese who immigrate to America. If the quality of life was comparable, you expect those numbers to at least be relatively comparable, but it’s not even close (even if you account for the home country’s’ populations).
It's not extremely significant at all. You're literally just making this up lmao. The only difference you know of as a fact is the gap in average incomes, but this doesn't make the quality of life worse, let alone 6 times worse, because cost of living is lower as well.
I never said it was. The difference between the US and Afghanistan is even more stark.
The difference between China and Afghanistan is stark. The difference between China and the US isn't stark at all. Quality of life for the average person is quite comparable nowadays. Maybe you can actually explain how it's 6 times worse, rather than just making the same claim over. Go ahead, I'll wait.
2
u/emoney_gotnomoney 1d ago edited 1d ago
No, cost of living in China is lower because the quality of life is lower.
That’s great, but I’m talking about China, not the Netherlands.
I would say it’s a perfectly acceptable claim to make, although the exact number is obviously purely subjective.
No it’s not. Compare the size of the average house in China (650 sq ft) to the size of the average house in the US (2200 sq ft), let alone the other specs of those houses. Compare where the average Chinese citizen purchases their goods (local markets, street markets, wet markets, etc.) to where the average American purchases their goods (massive department stores, massive grocery stores, Target, etc.) Even the poorest Americans would scoff at the idea of shopping at wet market. Compare the type of job the average Chinese citizen holds to that of the average American, and so on.
If we’re comparing the top 10-20% in each country, I would say the difference isn’t as drastic. But if you’re comparing the citizens in the 30-70% range, the difference is extremely significant. Just compare the number of Americans who immigrate to China versus the number of Chinese who immigrate to America. If the quality of life was comparable, you expect those numbers to at least be relatively comparable, but it’s not even close (even if you account for the home country’s’ populations).
the life expectancy in the US is not lower due to a low quality of life. The life expectancy in the US is lower because we live an extremely unhealthy and extremely sedentary lifestyle, the latter being a sign of very high quality of life (i.e. convenience).
I never said it was. The difference between the US and Afghanistan is even more stark.