> I dont have children? And judging by birth rates a lot of people dont as well.

Agreed, but lower fertility rates are common in wealthier countries - an effect notable enough to be recognizable even in first-generation migrants. When you don't have to have a literal dozen children so that one or two make it to adulthood to support you in old age, you're fine with having one or two - or even none, given that we have support systems for old people backed by society as a whole instead of families having to take care for themselves.

> Are housing costs relative to tech salaries really lower than the US?

Yes. Here in Germany, while I agree that rents are way too high, we simply don't have something like "working homeless".

> Again as a young, ambitious individual in Tech I would rather have more disposable income than rely on a ponzi scheme that's the gov-backed pension system.

Wonder who's gonna pick up the tab for you once you are in pension.