2003 vs 2007
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+16.0%
Median Home
+27.5%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2003 Price | 2007 Price | Change | Hours 2003 | Hours 2007 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.24 | $1.68 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.21 | +21% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $3.50 | +27% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.59 | $2.80 | +76% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.95 | $2.30 | +18% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.03 | $1.12 | +8% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.20 | $3.66 | +14% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $3.47 | +19% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.81 | $3.95 | +4% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.39 | $8.55 | +34% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.12 | +26% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,587 | $5,943 | +30% | 220.2h | 246.1h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,282 | $27,026 | +16% | 1117.9h | 1119.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $647 | $739 | +14% | 31.1h | 30.6h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $47.43 | $83.31 | +76% | 2.3h | 3.4h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.03 | $6.91 | +15% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2003 to 2007, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
2.3h → 3.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
220.2h → 246.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1117.9h → 1119.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2003 to 2007, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
31.1h → 30.6h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2003 ($43,320), you'd need $48,816 in 2007 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (184.0 → 207.3).