Average US worker uses BLS average hourly earnings: $25.90 in October 2016 and $37.75 in August 2026.
Hours of work per item
| Item | Price, Oct 2016 | Work time | Price, Aug 2026 | Work time | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs, grade A large, 1 dozen | $1.39 | ... | $2.27 | ... | ... |
| Milk, whole, 1 gallon | $3.29 | ... | $4.23 | ... | ... |
| White bread, 1 lb | $1.34 | ... | $1.82 | ... | ... |
| Ground beef, 1 lb | $3.68 | ... | $6.92 | ... | ... |
| Whole chicken, 1 lb | $1.50 | ... | $2.01 | ... | ... |
| Chicken breast, boneless, 1 lb | $3.31 | ... | $4.17 | ... | ... |
| Bacon, sliced, 1 lb | $5.38 | ... | $6.61 | ... | ... |
| Bananas, 1 lb | $0.57 | ... | $0.65 | ... | ... |
| Ground coffee, 1 lb | $4.31 | ... | $9.30 | ... | ... |
| Gasoline, regular, 1 gallon | $2.24 | ... | $4.20 | ... | ... |
| Electricity, 1,000 kWh | $134.00 | ... | $196.00 | ... | ... |
"Change" is the change in work time, not in price. Red means more time worked than in 2016, green means less.
Add your own item
Prices: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, U.S. city average, October 2016 and August 2026 (series APU0000708111, APU0000709112, APU0000702111, APU0000703112, APU0000706111, APU0000FF1101, APU0000704111, APU0000711211, APU0000717311, APU000074714, APU000072610). Electricity is $0.134 and $0.196 per kWh, shown for 1,000 kWh. Wages: BLS Current Employment Statistics, average hourly earnings of all employees, total private (series CES0500000003): $25.90 in October 2016 and $37.75 in August 2026. Retrieved October 2, 2026. Recent months can be revised.
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How this is calculated
Work time = price divided by hourly wage. For the average worker, the October 2016 price uses the October 2016 average wage and the August 2026 price uses the August 2026 average wage. For "My wage", the tool uses what you enter, and if you leave your 2016 pay blank it scales your current pay back by the change in the average wage. Wages are before tax.
Common questions
How do I work out how many hours an item costs?
Divide the price by your hourly wage. A $6 item at $20 an hour costs 0.3 hours, or 18 minutes of work. Enter your wage above and the tool does it for every item.
Is this before or after tax?
Before tax. It uses your gross hourly wage. Your take-home pay is lower, so the real number of hours you work for each item is higher.
Where do the prices come from?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price Data, U.S. city average, for October 2016 and August 2026 (the latest month in this tool). They are national averages, so your store will differ.
What does 'average worker' mean?
It uses the BLS average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls: $25.90 in October 2016 and $37.75 in August 2026. It is an average across all jobs, not a typical or median wage.
Why leave my 2016 wage blank?
If you leave it blank, the tool assumes your wage grew at the same rate as the average US wage over the 10 years (about 46%). Type your real 2016 wage if you know it for a truer picture.
Does this include rent, cars or houses?
No. BLS average price data does not cover them in dollars, and this tool only uses prices we can source directly. You can add your own item at the bottom of the table.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a calculator for education. It does not say what you should buy, earn or do.