The gap, in two numbers
Europe vs the US: 19% vs 90%.
About 19% of European homes have air conditioning. In the United States, 90%. America is not hotter than Europe. It is not richer per person than several European countries. It is just less proud about staying alive in August.
AC is not a crime.
Homes with air conditioning
Household AC adoption. Sources: IEA, Statista, Daikin. Europe ~19% (IEA via WRI).
Not hotter
Phoenix and Houston routinely beat anything in Europe, and cool nearly every home. The US South is hotter than the Mediterranean and air-conditions through it.
Not poorer
Germany and the UK out-earn South Korea and Japan per person, and cool a quarter to a twentieth of the homes. The money is there. The will is not.
Just deadlier
62,775 Europeans died of heat in 2024. Widespread cooling is one big reason the US, with similar heat, does not post a number like that.