2002 vs 2004
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+4.5%
Median Home
+17.3%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2002 Price | 2004 Price | Change | Hours 2002 | Hours 2004 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.03 | $1.34 | +30% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.02 | $0.97 | -5% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $3.16 | +14% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.36 | $1.88 | +39% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.71 | $2.16 | +26% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.07 | -0% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.24 | $3.38 | +4% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $2.85 | -3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.73 | $3.84 | +3% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.23 | $6.92 | +11% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | +4% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,081 | $5,027 | +23% | 200.2h | 235.9h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $22,871 | $23,686 | +4% | 1121.7h | 1111.4h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $629 | $665 | +6% | 30.8h | 31.2h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $40.59 | $55.93 | +38% | 2.0h | 2.6h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $5.73 | $6.22 | +9% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2002 to 2004, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
2.0h → 2.6h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
200.2h → 235.9h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
30.8h → 31.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2002 to 2004, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2002 ($42,410), you'd need $44,542 in 2004 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (179.9 → 188.9).