That's a nice saying. We can all learn from your grandma.
It is really easy to see just the green on the other side, but neglect the negative sides that come along with the green as well as not seeing the green where you stand. Just take Germany vs. the US as an example: MAC is more expensive in Germany, but everybody has access to healthcare by law (even if you are unemployed)* and tertiary education is free, even at top notch elite institutions. On the other side, MAC is cheaper (+ tax. A lot of Europeans forget that tax still needs to be added to the price), but healthcare is not available to everybody and going to a 1st tier university is going to cost you 50 grant in tuition per year.
Having lived all over the world, in my experience, there are always ups and downs to every city or country. In the end, it all pans out. I might end up pay for more x, but I have less access to y. Or get z for less, but something else stinks. It is important to keep everything in perspective.
* Germany is often cited as having the best healthcare system of the world, yet Germans often take it for granted. The same goes for social / welfare benefits.