2004 vs 2012
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+15.1%
Median Home
+12.0%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2004 Price | 2012 Price | Change | Hours 2004 | Hours 2012 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.34 | $1.84 | +37% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.97 | $1.42 | +46% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥛 Milk | $3.16 | $3.49 | +11% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.88 | $3.64 | +94% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $2.16 | $3.03 | +40% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.42 | +33% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.38 | $4.56 | +35% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.85 | $5.68 | +99% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.84 | $5.04 | +31% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.92 | $10.28 | +48% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.13 | +37% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $5,027 | $8,070 | +61% | 235.9h | 329.0h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,686 | $31,252 | +32% | 1111.4h | 1274.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $665 | $820 | +23% | 31.2h | 33.4h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $55.93 | $109 | +95% | 2.6h | 4.4h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.22 | $7.51 | +21% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2004 to 2012, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
2.6h → 4.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
235.9h → 329.0h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1111.4h → 1274.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
31.2h → 33.4h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2004 to 2012, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2004 ($44,330), you'd need $53,876 in 2012 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (188.9 → 229.6).