Please keep in mind that healthcare expenses are not proportional to income per n the USA. People in better jobs tend to have better health insurance plans and they also tend to live healthier life styles. With good insurance, these top out at several thousand per year per family.

Taxes tend to be lower in the US, real estate tends to be cheaper in the US, cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I am not sure why you think that general cost of living is very high in the USA.

America has no such ban, at least the USA does not. In most of the USA, most grocery stores provide unlimited free plastic bags to customers.

It is not common all over the US and not usually done during all seasons.

In the part of the US where I live, it’s warm 11-12 months a year. I drive everywhere when and my shoes don’t get very dirty. It is usually not a big deal to wipe the shoes on the outdoor and then on the indoor rug and then walk into my closet to put them away. We have tile floors in every room and it is very easy to mop.

Asking guests to remove their shoes is considered weird and tacky.