2004 vs 2016
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+33.2%
Median Home
+39.9%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2004 Price | 2016 Price | Change | Hours 2004 | Hours 2016 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.34 | $1.68 | +26% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.97 | $1.37 | +41% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🥛 Milk | $3.16 | $3.20 | +2% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.88 | $2.14 | +14% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $2.16 | $3.75 | +74% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.46 | +37% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.38 | $5.42 | +61% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.85 | $4.39 | +54% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.84 | $4.76 | +24% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.92 | $12.33 | +78% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +43% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $5,027 | $8,804 | +75% | 235.9h | 310.2h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,686 | $35,309 | +49% | 1111.4h | 1243.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $665 | $935 | +41% | 31.2h | 32.9h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $55.93 | $65.64 | +17% | 2.6h | 2.3h | Easier |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.22 | $8.18 | +31% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2004 to 2016, sorted by magnitude.
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
235.9h → 310.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
1111.4h → 1243.9h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
31.2h → 32.9h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2004 to 2016, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.6h → 2.3h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2004 ($44,330), you'd need $56,321 in 2016 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (188.9 → 240.0).