Search Q&A
Is moving from Belgium to the US worth it when self-employed?
I mostly wonder about the cost of living and what you keep of your income.
here in Belgium my highest bracket is at the max of 50%. Lets say I earn 6-11k depending on the month. I keep around 3k a month for myself after I paid all tax, social contribution, costs for the business...
2400 per 3 months for social contributions, 2100 per 3 months in VAT, 803 per year for health insurane, 240 a month for pension savings, 1500-2000 business costs a month + accountant and then at the end of the year I have to pay an added 17-19k in taxes to the government here in Belgium.
i wonder how it would be like moving to the US. If anyone has experience or knowledge?
Have you got a US passport? If not, how do you hope to be able to work in US?
You ask a question about personal happiness and fulfilment, then focus on the money.
Something is going seriously wrong.
Without knowing what type of business you're in, it's impossible to say. And your cost of living is going to vary massively depending on where you live. Your business and living costs are going to be significantly different if you set up in Northern Montana instead of New York, or for that matter, any large US city. There are also (just like in Europe) significant differences in business regulation and taxes, and personal taxes depending on what state you live in.
And, as WEZEMBEEKWANDERER notes above, this al assumes you have the right / ability to move there anyway.
Great response from Anon. Europeans always ask about life in the US, not realizing the sometimes HUGE differences between states. It's as if an American asked: "How's life in Europe?" Do you mean Greece or Sweden?
Good luck with affording or even obtaining health insurance in the US.
