Even allowing for the difference in tax rates, your wages are much higher over there (I would say about 15-20%) higher than over here. And your medical expenses are free? Nice.

Carmen, I too feel your pain. If it were possible now to go to a new company and get paid at a rate somewhat comparable to what I am making here, I would be gone. It's funny, even the "experts" are now advising people that if you can't negotiate a higher salary try to negotiate extra benefits (like two extra vacation days or a pass to the company gym is going to help pay the electric bill ). Stick with it; they say that you should expect to be out of work for one month for every $10,000 of yearly pay. Hope you don't have to wait that long.