2001 vs 2018
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+49.6%
Median Home
+87.9%
Housing Labor
1.3x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2001 Price | 2018 Price | Change | Hours 2001 | Hours 2018 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.93 | $1.74 | +87% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.29 | +29% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.88 | $2.90 | +0% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.46 | $2.74 | +87% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.71 | $3.72 | +117% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.11 | $1.50 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.25 | $5.47 | +68% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.09 | $4.30 | +39% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.70 | $4.74 | +28% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $5.96 | $12.46 | +109% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +48% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $3,735 | $9,212 | +147% | 184.0h | 303.3h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $22,457 | $37,577 | +67% | 1106.1h | 1237.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $605 | $1,006 | +66% | 29.8h | 33.1h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $43.32 | $84.16 | +94% | 2.1h | 2.8h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $5.56 | $8.57 | +54% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2001 to 2018, sorted by magnitude.
184.0h → 303.3h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
2.1h → 2.8h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
1106.1h → 1237.1h
harder
29.8h → 33.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2001 to 2018, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2001 ($42,230), you'd need $59,895 in 2018 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (177.0 → 251.1).