$100K before taxes would leave about half of it in most countries in Europe.

Just for the context,that's what I could afford back home in the capital: https://m.aruodas.lt/namu-nuoma-vilniuje-antakalnyje-bistryc...

After taxes even (source: I work from a rural part of France. Some years I've earned less, most years a lot more).

So then how much is $100k before taxes?

You can't compare US taxes to EU taxes. Paying these (taxes and social contibutions) you also get something in exchange: free public medical care, free education, state pension, various safety nets. Although quality and amount depends on country.

after taxes

In Denmark after taxes you would probably have about 329,000+ dkk, which yes, that is a pretty good half a middle class couple. So you can take care of half a family on that reasonably, not astoundingly great, but quite reasonable.

on edit: actually looking at wages in Denmark I see I am somehow doing a lot better than I thought, which is pretty much amazing to me considering how badly I thought I was doing. Since I am making about that amount after taxes. hmm.

Eh, I live in Sweden and I make around that much before taxes and me and my wife could manage with just my paycheck if we really had to. That's with a mortgage on a house, two cars, and a four year old kid.

I doubt the cost of living in Denmark is that much higher than Sweden, so I'd say you're living beyond your means if you can't make it work on 329K DKK after tax...

Have you been to copenhagen? If u’d head out to eat you won’t find anything for less than 500 SEK/pp unless u want fast food. Drinks are cheap though :)

No, I've never been to Denmark at all. That sounds really expensive. Not even Stockholm is that expensive (I live 60 KM south of Stockholm).

If you go out to eat there at a normal place, it'll be more like 300-400 SEK (~280 DKK) per person including 1-2 alcoholic beverages.

Denmark is more expensive but ultimately it'd depend on the area and so on.