Standard of living isn't everything. One of the best times of my life was in China, lifting weights, hiking up mountains, spending nights in temples, drinking tea, and meeting local people some of whom had never seen a white person before.
If you've never spent 3+ weeks in a country that's very different economically/socially than your own, I'd recommend it. You might like it, might not. I've had mixed experiences with different countries. I quite enjoyed China and Malaysia, Eastern Europe not so much.
But we all have different tastes - there's a meme in the USA that it's the "greatest country in the world" - I reject the notion that there is a greatest country in the world. Just different places for different people at different times in their lives.
there's a meme in the USA that it's the "greatest country in the world"
There's the same meme in India, and perhaps in other countries too. It is a bit silly to think like that, especially when most people haven't really travelled to many countries. I used to think the same but once I started travelling my views changed. Definitely worth a try.
Lessee... first trip to Asia was... 2005? 2006? 4 weeks in China. Spending money like it was going out of style.
I had a gym membership for a month with infinite personal training before 6PM ($12.50/month, high end gym), got a Thai-style massage probably 3 times a week ($7.50/hour, came with silver needle tea and large plate of fresh fruit), traveled a bit in Sichuan (short bus ride - 22 cents, longer one - under $10), saw pandas ($20 for a daytrip, everything included), shot a repeating crossbow ($1 or so), and bought an entire year's worth of clothing and a beautiful red leather suitcase (suitcase was most expensive thing I bought, $100 USD). I bought tons of gifts for family and friends, a set kangxi knives (swords), some crafts, and such. Total cost for all of that was under $100.
Total cost? Maybe $700? That includes all the shopping and luxuries, doesn't include air and lodging. I leave out air because I had a multi-stop ticket, but I think airfare was $1300 or so from Boston. Lodging in China is as cheap or expensive as you want. $40/night provides spectacular, though I had free lodging in a few places.
I ran the math a bunch, and told everyone who'll listen: If you're going to spend $2000 or more on clothing in the next 2 years (common for people who buy suits, for instance), it'd be cheaper to take a two week vacation to China or South America and get top quality and sometimes beautifully hand-made things than it would be to buy them in the USA. I only had one guy ever try my idea and report back, and he told me of getting shirts that'd retail at $100+ in the USA for $15 max, perfectly tailored jeans from scratch for $20, and top top notch suits for under $100. I think he overpaid - I got 3-4 pairs of shoes in China, nice leather shoes, $5 was the most I paid. USD has taken a bit of a hit since then, but I reckon it's still dirt cheap. I was in Chengdu mostly, great place with great people. Take antacids if you're going to eat the food though!
There are some elements of standard of living which are measurable, such as services, infrastructure and other things. But some elements are can't be measured and are up to the preferences of the individual. I can still be happy in the Philippines with an otherwise lower standard of living. If you get the opportunity to live abroad, do it.
