None of these countries have a higher standard of living than the US, as measured by per capita GDP. Bernie's favorite example of Norway does, but that's oil money pumping up the numbers, like it does for Qatar. Only Luxembourg and Switzerland are really better off. And all of them have minuscule defense budgets, though interestingly they all have some very successful defense industry companies...
GDP is not a very good measure of quality of life of the average individual, especially comparing economic policy varying between purely capitalist and purely socialist.
The way GDP is calculated spending is good. But is it really?
Under GDP the more that is spent in health care the better, as well as the more that is spent on producing military equipment the better. Also Government spending is in here. But wouldn't how that money is spent have an effect on quality of life? Social programs vs waging war perhaps?
Higher spending in health care does not necessarily mean a better standard of living. It can mean:
-More people are being treated for diseases (could be good, or could mean an increase in illness which is bad)
-increase in treatment levels for diseases (which is good)
-increase in health care cost (going back to the $700/pill statement which is bad)
Are the military firms adding to the wealth of individuals in society?
Is the level of security to prevent terrorism, or government spending money on non-reusable items such as bullets and bombs adding to the quality of life to their citizens? The answer is no.
In comparing Canada to the US for example:
Our GDP is less for obvious reasons as we have a smaller population than California. However health care being 'sold' at cost rather than having profit included in the bill gives us a better quality of life, but technically a lower GDP. We could also borrow money to throw away resources in a war which would also increase our GDP. Would we be better off? nope. The financial sector is one of the biggest chunks of the US GDP, but in Canada we shoot ourselves in the foot as it were with state owned insurance, selling services at a lower rate than for profit.
There are many measurements within GDP which are solid contributors to quality of life, but the system is flawed.
Going purely socialist also doesn't make a good comparison in other standards, since equal pay is there, but the lowest paid person in a more capitalist country may be making the average wage in the socialist country. There is a balance in between the two systems there somewhere, but the trick is finding it. It is just unfortunate the the arbitrary systems so far aren't perfect measurements of how well off we are.