2003 vs 2016
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+36.3%
Median Home
+58.8%
Housing Labor
1.2x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2003 Price | 2016 Price | Change | Hours 2003 | Hours 2016 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.24 | $1.68 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.37 | +37% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $3.20 | +16% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.59 | $2.14 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.95 | $3.75 | +92% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.03 | $1.46 | +41% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.20 | $5.42 | +70% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $4.39 | +51% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.81 | $4.76 | +25% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.39 | $12.33 | +93% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +46% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,587 | $8,804 | +92% | 220.2h | 310.2h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,282 | $35,309 | +52% | 1117.9h | 1243.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $647 | $935 | +44% | 31.1h | 32.9h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $47.43 | $65.64 | +38% | 2.3h | 2.3h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.03 | $8.18 | +36% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2003 to 2016, sorted by magnitude.
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
220.2h → 310.2h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
1117.9h → 1243.9h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
31.1h → 32.9h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
2.3h → 2.3h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2003 to 2016, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2003 ($43,320), you'd need $56,506 in 2016 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (184.0 → 240.0).