I thought I'd compare my experiences from working in the US versus NZ.

It's highly subjective, and I'm sure many will argue every point.

It also may be moot,as it's getting harder and harder for NZ to get work visas in the US.

In summary, big city salaries and house prices are similar, however cost of living is about 30% cheaper in the US.

Insurance / health care is completely different. As you get older, insurance takes bigger chunks of your US wages, and you can go bankrupt from a catastrophic illness or accident. If you have any pre-existing condition you WILL rejected for mainstream insurance, and need expensive insurance, that is capped.

Typically, the capped US insurance policies stop paying at NZ $380,000. I know this sounds like a lot, but here's a true story. An acquaintance had a car accident and suffered a severe head injury. His medical bill in the first 6 months was NZ 2 million dollars. In the next year it was an additional 2 million dollars. So in 18 months, it was NZ four million dollars.

Most Americans die broke, or almost broke, due to medical bills.

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New Zealand
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This one's pretty easy.

As mentioned I have a pre-existing medical condition, and over 50 years old. In NZ "Who cares? Not relevant."

Auckland: NZ $100 K -$110 K/year
After taxes, health insurance, cost of living adjustment (30% more expensive in NZ than US):
NZ $50 K - $54 K
NZ high quality house would cost at least one million (basic US houses = NZ high quality)

Chance of working from home / telecommuting: very rare

typical salaried work hours 37.5 to 42 hours week. Family life come first, work second.

vacation days guaranteed

sick time guaranteed

salaried overtime: either time-in-lieu, or paid.

punctuality: pretty loose in NZ

Getting fired: really hard in NZ

Getting sued in courts: really hard in NZ, and almost never bankrupts you.

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United States
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This one's a lot harder, because the size and variation

Big city salary NZ $106 K - $ 128 K
After taxes and insurance (varies even from city to city): $79 K - $95

House prices at least one million NZD (about $700 K US)

Chance of working from home / telecommuting: unusual, but more common than NZ

typical salaried work hours 42 to 45 hours week, though varies wildly. 60 hours not unusual for senior positions. Don't expect any recognition of working overtime; work life comes first, before family.

vacation days not guaranteed, typically 2 weeks

sick time not guaranteed, often subtracted from vacation days

salaried overtime: usually unpaid / expected. Time-in-lieu unusual, or paid is almost unheard of for salaried workers.

punctuality: very tight in US. Being late is unusually unacceptable. If you have to work till midnight, to meet a deadline, so be it.

Getting fired: compared to NZ, it's easy in the US. And it can be quick: literally less than an hour.

Getting sued in courts: the more you make, the more it's likely. perhaps 1 in 3 chance in senior positions. It bankrupts about 1 in 50. It will at least cost NZ $7,500 to defend yourself in court. If you're a high-paid professional directly dealing with the public, you will be sued sometime in your career.