"I think this is another by-product of America's weird urban sprawl and zoning shit," they theorized. "Everything is artificially controlled by the corporations."

Western prices without walkability: Food, coffee, and activities cost the same as Hong Kong or Vienna—but those cities don't require a $50+/day car rental for basic mobility.

How the US Compares

Their core argument: The US isn't just expensive—it's expensive in ways that compound.

In Vienna or Hong Kong, you pay Western prices for food and activities. But excellent public transit means no car costs. Walkable urban design means lower daily transport expenses. Dense city centers mean more accommodation options and competition.

In the US, you pay Western prices plus mandatory car rental plus inflated hotel costs driven by sprawl plus separate insurance.

The result: A baseline $50-70/day in transport and accommodation costs before you eat a single meal.

"I also don't quite understand how people are able to take trips or live comfortably here," they wrote. "The prices of everything add up substantially."

Where the US Is Actually Cheap

Curiously, the traveler noted one major exception: manufactured goods.

"What confuses me even more is how brands like Amazon can offer free same-day shipping, and how certain metal-based products can be so cheap relative to everything else (ie. rock climbing gear is relatively affordable when thinking about cost of living, like how does it logistically make sense to get steel carabiners for $10/piece when fuel/shipping would be so much???)."

That contradiction—cheap stuff, expensive life—captures something fundamental about American economics. Consumer goods are plentiful and affordable. But the basics of travel (housing, transport, food) cost dramatically more than comparable destinations.

Are They Out of Touch?

Comments were split. Some argued the nomad had lost perspective after years in cheap countries:

"You're comparing US prices to Southeast Asia. Compare them to Western Europe and it's pretty similar."

"$45/day for a car rental is actually cheap by European standards."

Others validated the analysis:

"The US is uniquely expensive because of car dependency. In Europe you don't need to rent a car for 3 weeks straight."

"Urban sprawl means hotels have monopoly pricing. You can't just walk to the next neighborhood for cheaper options."

"I'm American and I agree with everything OP said. It's expensive to live here too."

The Real Question

The debate isn't just about absolute prices—it's about value and accessibility.

Yes, Switzerland is more expensive per meal. But you can hike world-class trails for free and take trains everywhere. Japan isn't cheap, but the value-for-money is exceptional.

The US feels uniquely expensive to digital nomads because:

Infrastructure forces car dependency in most regions

Accommodation quality doesn't match prices due to zoning and sprawl

Insurance gaps and corporate fee-stacking add hidden costs

You can't "live like a local" to save money the way you can in Mexico or Portugal

As one commenter summarized: "The US is set up for people who own cars and homes. If you're a visitor who needs to rent both, you're paying tourist premium on top of already-high baseline costs."

Bottom Line for Nomads

The original poster's conclusion: "USA is absurdly expensive to visit or digital nomad in."

The data supports that for short-to-medium visits. Long-term stays in affordable US cities (like Austin, Pittsburgh, or Raleigh) can work with local leases and car ownership. But nomad-style travel—renting cars, booking short-term housing, moving between cities—hits every expensive pressure point in the American system.

For location-independent workers on typical budgets, the math increasingly points away from the US and toward Europe, Latin America, or Asia where nomad infrastructure is better and costs are lower.

Or as one commenter put it: "America is great if you're rich or if you live there permanently. For digital nomads it's the worst of both worlds."