I guess that depends on what you mean by "standard of living".

Exactly! I, for example, wouldn't want to live in Germany as you describe it. I could care less about trams and nightclubs -- my idea of a great night out is lying in the grass in the dark with my wife, sharing a bottle of wine while listening to the howl of coyotes in the distance. But I prefer to live in a rural area; someone with more urban sensibilities would probably think I'm nuts!!