2003 vs 2017
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+41.1%
Median Home
+67.8%
Housing Labor
1.2x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2003 Price | 2017 Price | Change | Hours 2003 | Hours 2017 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.24 | $1.47 | +18% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.33 | +33% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $3.23 | +17% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.59 | $2.41 | +51% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.95 | $3.64 | +87% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.03 | $1.47 | +42% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.20 | $5.77 | +80% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $4.45 | +53% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.81 | $4.69 | +23% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.39 | $12.66 | +98% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +48% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,587 | $9,037 | +97% | 220.2h | 307.4h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,282 | $36,113 | +55% | 1117.9h | 1228.6h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $647 | $971 | +50% | 31.1h | 33.0h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $47.43 | $74.24 | +57% | 2.3h | 2.5h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.03 | $8.40 | +39% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2003 to 2017, sorted by magnitude.
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
220.2h → 307.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
2.3h → 2.5h
harder
1117.9h → 1228.6h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
31.1h → 33.0h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2003 to 2017, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2003 ($43,320), you'd need $57,710 in 2017 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (184.0 → 245.1).