2003 vs 2021
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+63.4%
Median Home
+99.3%
Housing Labor
1.2x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2003 Price | 2021 Price | Change | Hours 2003 | Hours 2021 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.24 | $1.67 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.00 | $1.52 | +52% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $3.54 | +28% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.59 | $3.05 | +92% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.95 | $4.33 | +122% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.03 | $1.53 | +48% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.20 | $6.64 | +108% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $4.71 | +61% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.81 | $4.89 | +28% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.39 | $13.19 | +106% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +52% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,587 | $9,375 | +104% | 220.2h | 275.5h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,282 | $42,258 | +82% | 1117.9h | 1241.8h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $647 | $1,100 | +70% | 31.1h | 32.3h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $47.43 | $92.47 | +95% | 2.3h | 2.7h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.03 | $9.12 | +51% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2003 to 2021, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
220.2h → 275.5h
harder
2.3h → 2.7h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1117.9h → 1241.8h
harder
31.1h → 32.3h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2003 to 2021, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2003 ($43,320), you'd need $63,795 in 2021 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (184.0 → 271.0).