> Rent in Silicon Valley and NYC are definitely a lot higher than anywhere in Europe

Salaries in SF and NYC for tech workers are way higher in those areas indeed. I would argue that that is probably the main reason why rents are so high, there's plenty of tech workers with stellar salaries willing to pay for a house.

Dispute that taxes in US are lower. Sales tax is lower than VAT. That's true. But income tax is about the same or higher in the US, in my experience.

> Fresh of the boat immigrants are not entitled to welfare in Europe

If you mean healthcare then employed residents (what H1B is) are