An American expat who was making $80,000 in New York City has revealed how moving to Europe gave her a ‘significantly higher quality of life.’
TikTok user Soldana took to the video-sharing platform to reveal how her lifestyle had drastically improved since moving to Paris.
The singer-songwriter listed a whole host of benefits that came with the relocation, including a lower cost of living, increased paid vacation time and more opportunity to make friends.
And social media users were quick to praise Soldana for taking the leap.
TikTok user Soldana took to the video sharing platform to reveal how her lifestyle had drastically improved since moving to Paris
The singer-songwriter listed a whole host of benefits that came with the relocation, including a lower cost of living, increased paid vacation time and more opportunity to make friends
In the clip, which has so far been viewed more 614,000 times, Soldana speaks to camera as she reveals: ‘Moving to Europe gave me a significantly higher quality of life.’
She continued: ‘About three years ago, I was a college grad making about $80,000 base salary in New York City.
‘I was living in a four-bedroom apartment in downtown Manhattan that I shared with three other strangers.
‘I had the opportunity to move to Paris which at first I was very hesitant about because if you know anything about the European job market, if you compare it to New York salaries, the salaries are a huge cut.
‘But I said f*** it and I took the job even though it was a lower salary and it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made.’
Revealing why, Soldana said: ‘The cost of living is much lower in Europe so despite the salary being lower, I was able to go from a shared four-bedroom apartment to having my own one-bedroom apartment in central Paris.
‘On top of that, the additional paid vacation time is just insane. I went from three weeks of paid time off in New York City to having seven weeks legal minimum paid time off in Paris.
‘And with the proximity to all of the other European countries it’s so easy to go on endless weekend trips around Europe at your leisure.
The American expat who was making $80,000 in New York City said that moving to Europe gave her a ‘significantly higher quality of life’
She candidly revealed that making the move to Europe was ‘probably the best decision I’ve ever made’
But the creative did not stop there, adding: ‘Also if you’re a foodie and you love going out to eat – going out to eat was not a possibility for me when I was a new grad in New York. It was just too expensive, I would limit it to the weekends.
‘But going out to eat in Paris is something that you can affordably do multiple times a week. On average, a nice meal out with your friends will put you at €30 (around $32) including a cocktail.
‘And keep in mind, there’s no tipping here and so the 20 per cent tip that’s required in the US makes a huge difference on the total price that you pay at the end of your meal.’
Wrapping up her list of observations, she said: ‘Last but not least, I think that it was a lot easier for me to make friends in Paris as an American than it was for me moving to New York from California.
‘It may sound counter-intuitive but being a foreigner and moving to Europe, it was a lot easier of a conversation starter and made it easier for me to meet new friends.
Issuing some final words of advice, she concluded: ‘So if you’re hesitating, I highly recommend you make the move’
And dozens of social media users flooded the comments with praise for Soldana making the move before revealing that they too had been inspired
‘Also when you’re a foreigner, the expat community is so strong and once you’ve infiltrated it, it’s just so easy to make friendships because you have this point in common.’
Issuing some final words of advice, she concluded: ‘So if you’re hesitating, I highly recommend you make the move.’
And dozens of social media users flooded the comments with praise for Soldana making the move before revealing that they too had been inspired.
One wrote: ‘You’re so lucky! Those opportunities don’t come by often so good for you for taking the leap.’
Another added: ‘Quality of life is so important! Good for you!’
And a third simply said: ‘This is my sign.’
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