2004 vs 2018
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+42.5%
Median Home
+49.1%
Housing Labor
1.0x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2004 Price | 2018 Price | Change | Hours 2004 | Hours 2018 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.34 | $1.74 | +30% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.97 | $1.29 | +33% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $3.16 | $2.90 | -8% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.88 | $2.74 | +45% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $2.16 | $3.72 | +72% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.50 | +40% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.38 | $5.47 | +62% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.85 | $4.30 | +51% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.84 | $4.74 | +23% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.92 | $12.46 | +80% | 0.3h | 0.4h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.14 | +44% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $5,027 | $9,212 | +83% | 235.9h | 303.3h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $23,686 | $37,577 | +59% | 1111.4h | 1237.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $665 | $1,006 | +51% | 31.2h | 33.1h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $55.93 | $84.16 | +50% | 2.6h | 2.8h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $6.22 | $8.57 | +38% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2004 to 2018, sorted by magnitude.
235.9h → 303.3h
harder
0.3h → 0.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
1111.4h → 1237.1h
harder
31.2h → 33.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
2.6h → 2.8h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2004 to 2018, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2004 ($44,330), you'd need $58,924 in 2018 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (188.9 → 251.1).