sigh... I assure you the top 1% earner of a high income per capita country enjoys a very high standard of living. A net income of 120k/y leaves with you with a real income of 94_080€/y (see sibling comment) or ~7840€/month when you're single. You'll have no problem renting a 30 sqm² for 1000€/month in a beautiful neighborhood in the center of Paris. Money isn't the problem, your "best tech people" are just too greedy.

And frankly, the recent backlash against big tech in relation to the ever rising compensation of SV people depicts a dark portrait of the "best tech people" around. This has more to say about the lack of moral standards in the industry than about the lack of incentives of the European Startups Ecosystems...

So your in top 1% of salaries and you are suggesting a 30sqm apartment is good? That’s a tiny box for a “top” income earner

You live in Paris for the extensive catalogue of activities accessible : architecture, museums, monuments, unique places and restaurants, locus of power, demonstrations etc... all squeezed in 100km². The city is one of the most densely crowded area in the world for a reason.

I don't think I need to lecture you about the ubiquitous problem of housing prices in "world-class" cities.