2001 vs 2003
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+2.6%
Median Home
+11.0%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2001 Price | 2003 Price | Change | Hours 2001 | Hours 2003 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.93 | $1.24 | +34% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.00 | +0% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.88 | $2.76 | -4% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.46 | $1.59 | +9% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.71 | $1.95 | +14% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.11 | $1.03 | -6% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.25 | $3.20 | -2% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.09 | $2.92 | -6% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.70 | $3.81 | +3% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍬 Sugar | $5.96 | $6.39 | +7% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | +1% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $3,735 | $4,587 | +23% | 184.0h | 220.2h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $22,457 | $23,282 | +4% | 1106.1h | 1117.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $605 | $647 | +7% | 29.8h | 31.1h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $43.32 | $47.43 | +9% | 2.1h | 2.3h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $5.56 | $6.03 | +8% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2001 to 2003, sorted by magnitude.
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
184.0h → 220.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
2.1h → 2.3h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
29.8h → 31.1h
harder
1106.1h → 1117.9h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2001 to 2003, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2001 ($42,230), you'd need $43,890 in 2003 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (177.0 → 184.0).