2003 vs 2018
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+45.8%
Median Home
+69.3%
Housing Labor
1.2x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2003 Price | 2018 Price | Change | Hours 2003 | Hours 2018 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.24 | $1.74 | +40% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.29 | +29% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $2.90 | +5% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.59 | $2.74 | +72% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.95 | $3.72 | +90% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.03 | $1.50 | +45% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.20 | $5.47 | +71% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $4.30 | +48% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.81 | $4.74 | +24% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.39 | $12.46 | +95% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +47% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,587 | $9,212 | +101% | 220.2h | 303.3h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,282 | $37,577 | +61% | 1117.9h | 1237.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $647 | $1,006 | +55% | 31.1h | 33.1h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $47.43 | $84.16 | +77% | 2.3h | 2.8h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.03 | $8.57 | +42% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2003 to 2018, sorted by magnitude.
220.2h → 303.3h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
2.3h → 2.8h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
1117.9h → 1237.1h
harder
31.1h → 33.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2003 to 2018, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2003 ($43,320), you'd need $59,118 in 2018 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (184.0 → 251.1).