2004 vs 2014
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+21.0%
Median Home
+31.0%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2004 Price | 2014 Price | Change | Hours 2004 | Hours 2014 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.34 | $2.02 | +51% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.97 | $1.40 | +45% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥛 Milk | $3.16 | $3.69 | +17% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.88 | $3.37 | +79% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $2.16 | $3.90 | +81% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.53 | +43% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.38 | $5.78 | +71% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.85 | $4.99 | +75% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.84 | $4.89 | +27% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.92 | $11.70 | +69% | 0.3h | 0.5h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +45% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $5,027 | $8,543 | +70% | 235.9h | 331.1h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,686 | $33,560 | +42% | 1111.4h | 1300.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $665 | $870 | +31% | 31.2h | 33.7h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $55.93 | $102 | +82% | 2.6h | 3.9h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.22 | $7.73 | +24% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2004 to 2014, sorted by magnitude.
2.6h → 3.9h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
235.9h → 331.1h
harder
0.3h → 0.5h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1111.4h → 1300.9h
harder
31.2h → 33.7h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2004 to 2014, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2004 ($44,330), you'd need $55,549 in 2014 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (188.9 → 236.7).