2004 vs 2017
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+37.9%
Median Home
+47.8%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2004 Price | 2017 Price | Change | Hours 2004 | Hours 2017 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.34 | $1.47 | +10% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.97 | $1.33 | +37% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $3.16 | $3.23 | +2% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.88 | $2.41 | +28% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $2.16 | $3.64 | +69% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.47 | +38% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.38 | $5.77 | +71% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.85 | $4.45 | +56% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.84 | $4.69 | +22% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.92 | $12.66 | +83% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +46% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $5,027 | $9,037 | +80% | 235.9h | 307.4h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,686 | $36,113 | +52% | 1111.4h | 1228.6h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $665 | $971 | +46% | 31.2h | 33.0h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $55.93 | $74.24 | +33% | 2.6h | 2.5h | Easier |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.22 | $8.40 | +35% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2004 to 2017, sorted by magnitude.
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
235.9h → 307.4h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
1111.4h → 1228.6h
harder
31.2h → 33.0h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2004 to 2017, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.6h → 2.5h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2004 ($44,330), you'd need $57,521 in 2017 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (188.9 → 245.1).