I have gone to school in the US for 4 years. Its true that houses are built in a very cheap way. If you go outside the bigger places and out to the countryside you have the feeling of traveling 40 years back in time. Also health insurance is covered through taxes in Scandinavia. In the US this is a very big family expense. Also the wage in the US is ridiculous, we probably earn on average about 3 times more. My American friends from college is all earning a minimum. They have work in various fields, but are all struggling to get by. Whereas here in Norway people buy two houses a new car, go on expensive vacations etc.
Back in 1970 the US was way in front of our country when it comes to livingstandard, but now the opposite is true.