> For whatever reason, their pay is total crap

The reason is pretty simple. Companies in SF create massive amount of value to the world and the developers capture some portion of the reward. Companies in Europe don't generate anywhere near the same value to the world as compared to SF. So the pay is low.

Yes, I'm from Spain and here a senior dev gets paid around 50-60k. That would be the salary for a junior dev or even an intern in the US. As I junior dev I get paid 26k and it is considered quite high.

Just wondering how does that work out to cover your cost of living? For example how much is rent, food, etc.?

I live in the Bay Area and my home owners insurance (fires, earthquakes), property taxes, etc. are that much.

Very much looking to leave this area in 2022.

Depending on where you live rents can be higher or lower. In richer cities apartments might start at ~1200EUR, in other slightly more remote areas (everything is quite close together regardless..) 700EUR might be a more normal price. These are prices in the northwest of Europe, in Spain they are likely lower. In eastern Europe, much lower.

Most people in Europe with "normal", even though highly skilled jobs do not make large wads of money. Freelancing and consulting is where it's at (or Switzerland).

Intern salaries typically beat that in the SF at the larger companies, which is pretty wild by itself but is obviously just in line with the rest of the pay scale.

Are those figures pre or post tax?

They are before tax