How are well fitting shoes supposed to feel?

Is the toe box supposed to be loose? Snug? Is the arch support meant to be flush against the sole of your foot? Or is it supposed to feel like its digging up into your foot? Or is your foot supposed to feel like you're barefoot/the arches are suspended over the air?

I get bad foot pain after very little walking despite being relatively active and in shape - I think it's a shoe fit problem? I get around it somewhat by stacking insoles, but I was told that was only a bandaid solution for shitty ass shoes.
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