Life in the USA, which many people see in American films, seems very attractive to many immigrants. The standard of living, opportunities and large territories with a diverse climate give reason to assume that life will improve in this country. At first glance, it seems that this is a country where you can dream of living.

Favorable conditions for work and life, high economic indicators and advanced technologies attract millions of visitors to America every year in search of a fabulous life. Many people stay in the country illegally. Their life is difficult and even dangerous, because illegal immigrants lose all the social opportunities and benefits necessary for life.

While Americans and green card holders can live, taking advantage of all the opportunities from the category of social and civil rights. There is no social difference between native Americans and those who have received resident status, they are equal and have the same rights, as well as civic duty.

According to the standard of living, the United States of America is the country with the highest rates. Conclusions about quality are made on the basis of facts about the salaries of specialists, working conditions, social benefits and guarantees, medical care, life expectancy, quality of education, and so on. But, as in any state, in addition to the positive, there are always negative aspects.

Pros and cons of living in the USA

At first glance, from afar and in the first days of arrival, living in the States seems like an ideal option, especially after watching Hollywood films that show how Americans live and how their problems are simply solved. But it's not that simple.

Life in the USA is not as easy and fabulous as it might seem at first glance. It is immigrants who are the first to confront the negative aspects of this country. What is available to legal immigrants and natives is not available to illegal immigrants.

Among the advantages of living in America are:

• For immigrants, there are free language courses (Community Colleges).
• High quality medical care and social guarantees.
• Good ecological situation, except for large cities.
• Food is inexpensive and of high quality. Technique and electronics are also at the proper level.
• Visitors here are treated kindly and tolerantly. The service is also excellent, they try to keep the streets clean and tidy. Roads are in excellent condition.
• The farther from the big cities, the lower the unemployment rate.
• American education is valued around the world.
• High wages. If the salary level is within 10 dollars per hour, then the employer is obliged to provide the employee with housing and food at his own expense.

Among the minuses are the following:

• Higher education and qualifications are required. To find a good job, you will have to apply for paid services to special recruiting agencies. Their services are also actively used by employers themselves. Because of this, the process of professional integration for immigrants often takes a very long time.
• Due to the influx of migration, there is a high level of unemployment, as well as crime, especially among Hispanics and African Americans. It is not uncommon for schools to use firearms. The disadvantaged segment of the population is engaged in the sale and use of drugs.
• High cost of medical care. For example, payment for outpatient treatment can reach tens of thousands of dollars, for a simple consultation with a specialist you will have to pay two hundred dollars, and medical insurance must be paid regularly - without it, the patient may not be admitted to the hospital.
• Very expensive real estate, which is not so easy to acquire, as you have to take into account the wishes of those who live in the neighborhood.
• Buying your own car is a must, as public transport is often only available in large cities.
• The cost of education in educational institutions for middle-income families is also high. Often parents take loans for their children's studies or save up from their birth, investing in advance. To be able to study at a prestigious higher institution, you need to be from a very wealthy family. In general, all Americans live on credit, repaying it for years on good terms, which are available only to natives and residents.
• High taxes, which are very difficult for a novice US resident to cope with.

Standard of living in the USA

In order to assess the standard of living in a particular country, those factors are taken that sufficiently satisfy the various needs of the population. The higher the indicators for the quality of social security, the quality of housing and utilities, the more stable wages and the diversity of the cultural environment and services, the higher the quality of living standards.

The United States of America is the leader in terms of population growth. This is primarily due to the fact that life in the United States is associated with comfortable conditions and excellent medical care. But the main increase in population, of course, is provided by immigration.

The unemployment rate is considered low, however, these figures are uneven. In New York, this figure is very high, since the gap between wealthy people and the poor is impressive. The presence of higher education and experience plays a crucial role in employment.

The more prestigious the education and profession, the higher and more stable the income. Good specialists are valued here, and they do not have to worry that they will be suddenly fired. Managers, lawyers, doctors and TV presenters have the highest income. That is, representatives of those professions that are associated with the social and entertainment sphere.

Salaries

In the United States, hourly wages are practiced. However, wages may vary by state. Thus, the same position is paid differently, depending on the city. Therefore, many people move to work in big cities.

The state welcomes and supports private business in every possible way, and the consumer market is represented very widely, so everyone can find their niche in the business sector.

Education

Prices for education in educational institutions are quite affordable, but the more prestigious the institution, the higher the cost. Higher education tuition fluctuates in the range of tens of thousands of dollars a year. To obtain a specialist diploma, it is enough to study, both in college and at the university.

Education in the USA is also open for foreigners; there are a lot of programs for them, including exchange programs. Therefore, anyone who wants to stay in this country can live in America and get an education there.

Food

The food here is of excellent quality and at affordable prices. Good and tasty food can be afforded by people with almost any income. Eating out in restaurants, however, is much more expensive. The availability of products is due to the fact that the state supports farms in every possible way. For people who want to devote their lives to working on the land and farming, there are profitable government programs.

America is also famous for its affordable and nutritious fast food, which is junk food. As a result, many Americans are overweight.

Real estate in the USA

An indicator of wealth and well-being for an American is the presence of his own housing. The most popular are small private houses of one or two floors with an average cost of 100-200 thousand dollars. The price of housing depends on what material the house is built of, in what area it is located and on its total living area.

Families with an average income receive the desired square meters with the help of a consumer loan, the terms of which are favorable and the interest is not high (5-10%), and the terms are up to 30 years. Each client has an individual approach, which depends on the level of family income and the advance payment.

A typical American home must have: a living room, a dining room and a garage. In especially prestigious variants, the house has a small cozy garden and a swimming pool.

Insurance and taxes

An important condition for a comfortable stay in the United States is insurance, which is very common in the country as a mandatory and recommended service. Insurance covers life and health, then movable and immovable property.

In large offices, the employer provides health insurance for their employees. This is how you care about your employees. And especially prestigious corporations provide insurance not only for their employees, but also for their families. Small companies also protect their employees by offering them discounted insurance.

For the poor in the country there is absolutely free insurance. Children under 19 years of age and people of retirement age after 65 years of age fall into the category of state social security. The Medicare program is designed specifically for the elderly, which includes doctor's consultations and outpatient care. Thus, in America they take care of those who have lived for many years in the country, conscientiously working for the good of the state.

Taxation in the US is very costly. In general, it takes 30-50% of the total family income. The largest spending comes from federal and state taxes, real estate and property taxes, and sales taxes.

Students of educational institutions, people of retirement age and residents with a minimum level of income are not taxed. Some categories of citizens are subject to special social programs.

From all this, we can conclude that the state is trying with all its might to maintain a high standard of living and is worried about prolonging the life of its citizens.

Work in the USA

It is not so difficult to leave for work in the USA in 2019, but in order to get a good job, you will have to approach this issue with special care. There are many vacancies in simple working areas, but this work is considered low-skilled and paid low.

There are several ways to move to work:

• Study and internship. Many Russian universities offer their students internship programs in the United States. Most often, these programs are implemented during the holidays - for the whole summer. It should be noted that participation in these projects is paid, but due to the fact that the student will be provided with housing and meals, he will be able to justify the expenses with money earned during his life in the United States.
• Work Visa. This is the most common option.
• Visa for creative individuals and rare specialties (design, music, scientists).

Russian emigrants in the United States for the first time choose vacancies that do not require special skills and education. This is the work of maids, service workers (dry cleaners, house cleaning), builders, workers in factories and plants, waiters and sellers.

The life of Russians in the United States seems to be more satisfying and fun, because in relation to the standard of living in our countries, Russia is somewhat inferior to the opportunities that America promises. But how the life of an immigrant will develop in the future also depends on him.