>If these are the expectations for tech salaries then how about the rest of the (middle-class) workforce?

The expectation seems to be we will go back to a sharp division between property owners and eternal tenants, like it was when my 95 year old grandparents were kids.

The Old World still likes its Feudalism it seems.

>Is it better in the US? The places you listed are probably the worse when it comes to feudalism-lite. I live in the middle of the country and the engineers I graduates with purchased property around 26-27. Our salaries are probably 75% of the bigger cities but cost of living easily makes up for that (in my opinion).

Is it better in the US? San Fancisco / NY / Boston sound way worse despite way higher wages. I don't really hear much from people outside of those places.

You can get a nice 1BR in or close to NY for $2000 USD. Working in NY the average tech salary all in for someone with a few years of experience is $150k.

Working as a developer in the USA is way better than being a developer in Europe.

Don't know why you're being downvoted. If people would look at the property prices in German cities for example they'd get it. Unless you and your partner are very high earners you're priced out of buying anything family worthy in all cities with tech jobs.

Germany is the poster child for controlled rent working well for everybody, to the point where it is more of hassle to buy.

What are you talking about ? Are you even living in Germany? The rent prices here in Berlin are bonkers, landlords are asking 800 Euros warm for 35 sqm "flats" and they are able to get away with it because every flat in the area has at least 30+ applicants. Even if it is rent controlled and the contracts are illegal, you can not report it otherwise you get kicked and no other landlord will rent you their property. They literally ask you if you had any legal conflicts with your previous landlord and they can actually refuse your application because of this.

In my opinion, as ein verrückte britische Ausländer living in Berlin, the rent control is why so many people show up to flat viewings.

However, I think there is a lot of price variation in Berlin, and many cheap parts: I’m paying €485 for a room in a WG in Buchholz, while collecting €820 (after fees, at current exchange rates) from a flat in a quiet village 30 minutes away from Cambridge in the UK.

Sorry, I'm confused about your statement. Is your WG room in Berlin expensive and your flat in Cambridge cheap or the other way arround?

I find Berlin to be cheap.