2001 vs 2009
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+17.9%
Median Home
+24.6%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2001 Price | 2009 Price | Change | Hours 2001 | Hours 2009 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.93 | $1.66 | +79% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.39 | +39% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.88 | $3.11 | +8% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.46 | $2.35 | +61% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.71 | $2.22 | +30% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.11 | $1.28 | +16% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.25 | $3.61 | +11% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.09 | $3.67 | +19% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.70 | $4.32 | +17% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $5.96 | $10.07 | +69% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.13 | +38% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $3,735 | $6,695 | +79% | 184.0h | 279.7h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $22,457 | $28,400 | +26% | 1106.1h | 1186.7h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $605 | $784 | +30% | 29.8h | 32.7h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $43.32 | $70.76 | +63% | 2.1h | 3.0h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $5.56 | $7.18 | +29% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2001 to 2009, sorted by magnitude.
184.0h → 279.7h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
2.1h → 3.0h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
29.8h → 32.7h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
1106.1h → 1186.7h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2001 to 2009, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2001 ($42,230), you'd need $51,180 in 2009 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (177.0 → 214.6).