For me the climate and people are more important than the pay strip. I'd choose something like the south of France, the region of Provance, cities like Avignon, Manosque or Grenoble (if you are into skiing).

I'd dessuade you from living in the Northern Europe.

I lived in Denmark for a year and I'd not go to Scandinavia but for holidays ever again.

The taxes are so high it's almost not worthwhile to make any effort or try harder.

These countries have one of the smallest income gap between those who earn the least and the rich. On the top of that it's dark, cold, the language is difficult to pick up, stores close early on the week days and are closed on Sundays.

Read about "Law of Jante" on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante

Everything is damn expensive. Owning a car is a luxury.

People are friendly, but that means just "helpful" kind of friendly, not necessarily friendly like in "warm, carring and thoughtful". At least that's my impression.

They drink a lot and drinking is a must if you want to socialise. The stereotype of drinking Russians should be superseded by the drinking Danish youth. Perfectly dreadful.

The original Legoland in Billund is closed in winter :(

And trains are often late.

However, the nature is fabulous, and the streets and houses are meticulously clean. And these countries were not destroyed during the great wars - the last time Copenhagen was besiged, bombarded and plundered was in the times of Napoleon in 1807 - unlike Berlin or Dresden. That gives the city a special ambience.

On the other hand in Provance it is warm most of the year and you can easily get to Rome or Paris, or pay Spain a visit. And it has Alps and Mediterranean and palm trees all no further than 70 km drive!