15 Things That Prices Are Too Damn High For, Compared To What They Were 5 Years Ago

    Prices are going up, now these paychecks need to follow suit.

    Angela Andaloro
    by Angela Andaloro

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    It's expensive to exist and there's no nice way to put it.

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    Being an adult means that (in most cases) you're always at least a liiiittle stressed about money.

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    It's the nature of the beast that is responsibility. 

    Lately, it probably feels like a little more than a little bit. Most people were left in a weird place financially from the events of the last few years.

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    Take these life basics that have gone up in price in a dramatic way in the last five(ish) years.

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    1. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average gas price for 2018 (inexplicably five years ago) was $2.60 per gallon.

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    Adjusted for inflation, that's $3.24 per gallon, which is $0.14 per gallon lower than the current national average gas price per AAA, $3.437.

    2. Not only is gas expensive, but so are the things it fuels. The average car price (per JD Power) in 2018 was $34,292, or $40,511.25 when adjusted for inflation.

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    The average in December 2022 was, in comparison, $46,382.

    3. And speaking of things you buy off a lot, Christmas tree prices in 2018 averaged $66.43 ($79.54). This past Christmas, prices averaged $85.59.

    Father and child picking out a Christmas tree at a Christmas tree lot
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    Plenty of other plants have seen price hikes as well. 

    4. Let's talk rent. The national average apartment rent in 2018 was $1,419, which is $1,676.35 when adjusted for inflation.

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    By the end of 2022, that number was $1,978.

    5. Buying is incredibly hard also. The average sales price of houses sold in 2018 was $325,275 ($389,485 today).

    couple sitting in their moving truck with boxes behind them in front of their new house
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    Going into 2023, that figure stands at $454,525.

    6. You've heard groceries have gone up but, a look at a few key items will show you how much. There's been a lot of talk about eggs, which averaged at $1.74 a dozen in 2018, which is $2.06 when adjusted for inflation.

    sale of chicken eggs in boxes on the shelves in the supermarket
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    Based on 2022's average egg prices, we're currently paying $0.80 more for a dozen eggs, with the current average at $2.86.

    7. Streaming is costing more, and not just because there are more streaming services than ever before. Take Netflix, for example, which cost $7.99/month for basic ($9.44 adjusted for inflation) in 2018.

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    Standard was $10.99/month ($12.98), and premium was $13.99/month ($16.53). They've since added a fourth option, basic with ads ($6.99/month). The basic plan is $9.99/month, the standard plan is $15.49/month, and the premium plan is $19.99/month.

    8. Milk has also gone up from averaging $3.27 per gallon of whole milk in 2018 ($3.86 when adjusted for inflation). Today, a gallon of whole milk costs, on average, $4.21.

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    9. There's also beer, another great staple of the USA, which was going for $1.41 (today's $1.70) per 16 ounces as the national average in 2018.

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    At of the end of 2022, it was $1.74 per 16 ounces.

    10. Everyone's favorite form of caffeine has also gotten pricier. A single pound of coffee cost $1.13 in 2018 ($1.35 today), while now, it's $2.14.

    Blank brown kraft paper pouch bag with coffee beans in transparent window
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    11. Movie ticket prices have gone up in a big way, too. In 2018, the average ticket price was $9.11 ($10.76). Though updated figures haven't been officially released since 2019, it's believed that number is around $11 today.

    Father and child getting snacks at a movie theater
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    12. Everyone loves bacon, but not at these prices. The average price of bacon per pound in 2018 was $5.47 ($6.55 today). Now, it's $6.96.

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    13. A formula-feeding family (using an average of 25 ounces a day) would spend between $1,200 ($1,436.89) to $1,500 ($1,796.11) on average in 2018. In 2022, that range opened up to between $821.25 and $2,920.

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    14. Childcare prices have gone up, too. Babysitters were charging an average of $16.75 per hour ($20.06 with inflation considered) to watch one child in 2018/2019.

    babysitter playing with stacking blocks with toddler
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    In 2022, that went up to $20.57 per hour to watch one child.

    15. Education's been hit as well. In the 2017–2018 school year, the average price of four-year public colleges in-state was $20,770 ($24,870), and $46,950 ($56,218) for nonprofit private schools.

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    For 2022–2023, four-year public colleges are averaging $25,707 annually, and $54,501 for nonprofit private colleges.

    What expense is currently killing you? What do you feel keeps going up? Let's discuss in the comments.