According to the United Nations’ World Happiness Report released in 2026, Americans are significantly happier than Russians based on a number of factors, including social support and freedom. Indeed, the US ranked 23th of 147 countries, while Russia was only 79th.
In terms of population density, Russia is certainly the better option. Not only is it the biggest country in the world, but its current density sits at about 22 people for every square mile (eight for every sq km). This compares well to the US, which has 98 people per square mile (38 per sq km).
Between sunny beaches and snowy mountains, the US offers a diverse climate. Russia, with its vast territory, also has a diverse climate, but is known for its harsh winters, particularly in Siberia. For those preferring milder climates and geographic variety, the US is a far better option.
On a monthly basis, working residents in the United States receive a lot more income than those in Russia. Indeed, the average monthly salary in the US sits at around US$5,183, while Russians earn approximately $1,193.
Although residents of the US earn high salaries on average, their cost of living is also rather exorbitant. The monthly rental value of a one-bedroom apartment in the city center in the US is about US$1,640, while Russians only pay $710.
Russians also pay significantly less for goods and services. For a mid-range bottle of wine, residents can look to pay around US$7, while Americans would need to pay around $35.
Based on average monthly salaries, Russians can afford longer taxi rides on a day’s pay than Americans. On a day’s wages, US residents could be able to travel 60 miles (97 km), while Russians could travel 104 miles (167 km).
Russian public transportation is far better than that in the United States. The cost of a single ride on public transport in the Russian capital city of Moscow is about US$0.89, while residents of Washington, D.C. can pay up to $6.75.
Don’t let these numbers fool you! If you take purchasing power into account, Americans can actually buy more with their dollars than Russians can with their rubles. But money isn’t the only factor when it comes to a country’s livability.
The gender gap also has a significant influence on a country’s happiness. In the United States, the number of women in the House of Representatives is currently 125 of 435 members. In Russia, however, there are only 74 women out of 450 members of the State Duma.
In the US, women earn 81 cents for every dollar a man makes, but Russian women earn only 51 cents for every dollar a man earns. The US is currently the 42nd best country for gender equality, while Russia is 81st.
Russia does not have legislation put in place to address domestic violence, while the United States does. In fact, 2017 saw Russia introduce legislation known as the “slapping law,” which decriminalized many types of violence in the home.
Similar to vacation days, there is no federal law in the US that offers paid public holidays to employees. Russia, however, provides 14 days annually. The US is the only developed nation on the planet that doesn’t guarantee paid time off work.
Unlike the United States, Russia offers universal healthcare to its citizens, although the quality of healthcare is incredibly low, which means most people pay out of pocket for treatment. Their healthcare ranking sits at 42, while the US sits at 15.
The United States also has better life expectancy compared to Russia, where males are expected to live to 79, and females to the age of 81. In Russia, males have a life expectancy of 75, and females are expected to live to 78.
Alongside universal healthcare, Russians also have more hospital beds than the US. For every 10,000 people, Russian hospitals have 105 beds, while US hospitals only have 27.
Source: MSN
