Everyone’s talking about 2016 these days, and it’s got us feeling nostalgic … and also a little angry. I mean, do you remember what eggs cost back then? Concert tickets? Fast food? Seriously, a family of four could have gone to a proper restaurant for what they’d pay for a McDonald’s meal today. And those Taylor Swift concert tickets didn’t cost more than a mortgage payment.
But are we remembering this correctly? Has it really gotten that much worse? According to an unofficial Facebook poll we conducted, the answer is a resounding yes. Readers chimed in with what was hurting their wallet the most, and well, let’s just say there’s very little that isn’t noticeably more expensive. Even basic things feel like a true luxury right now.
We dug into the data to find out whether it’s just vibes or whether costs really have climbed that much in the past 10 years. Plus, we asked financial expert Sarah Brady to share her thoughts on when costs may go back down and how to keep money in your pocket in the meantime. Read on to learn just how different prices are in 2026—and what it means for your budget.
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It’s not our imagination—prices have gone up a lot, right?
Nope, it’s not our imagination! Overall, consumer prices in the U.S. are up about 30% to 35% since 2016, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS). That means something that cost $100 in 2016 now costs roughly $130 to $135 on average. And while inflation was fairly mild between 2016 and 2019, it surged dramatically in 2021 and 2022—peaking near 9% year over year in mid-2022, the highest in about four decades.
“When it comes to everyday expenses, consumers have been hit particularly hard by increases in food and gas prices,” Brady says. But those increases don’t tell the whole story of why consumers are struggling. “Both rents and mortgage rates have skyrocketed too, so many people feel like they’re taking hits from all sides.”
Just how much have everyday items skyrocketed?
From groceries to movie tickets, here are some of the categories that have been hit the hardest by price surges, according to the CPI and market experts. (Keep in mind, these are national averages and you may be paying less for a cup of coffee if you live in a small suburban town … and more if you live in a major city.)
1. Groceries: 30% increase
Ten years ago, a fresh gallon of whole milk cost around $3.20. Now? It’s almost $4.07. That’s a 27% jump! Bacon has undergone the same percentage increase, so a pack of sliced bacon that cost you $5.42 in 2016 is now almost $7! No wonder people have pivoted to just having a cup of coffee for breakfast.
2. Fast food: 50% increase
The only thing that’s supersized at McDonald’s these days is the prices. Case in point: A Happy Meal in 2016 cost $3.19. Now? It’s $5.99. That’s a nearly 88% increase!
But that’s not the only chain that has scaled back the “value” in a value meal. Over at Taco Bell, a simple bean and cheese burrito was a $1 menu item in 2016, and it cost, well, a dollar (plus tax). Now, that same picky-eater favorite is $2.49—more than double the price!
Sure, each establishment and each item will have markedly different prices. But when you make an average, they all paint the same picture: Drive-thrus aren’t what they used to be.
3. Gas: 48% increase
The average gallon of gas in 2016 was $2.14. Now? $4! That may not seem like a lot, but that’s a nearly 87% increase that won’t even fill up your tank.
In some major cities, gas prices are all the way up to $7. But smaller suburban areas, as well as those with public-transportation infrastructures, bring the average increase down to that 48% noted above.
4. Concert tickets: 41% increase
2016 was a hot year for music. Everyone from Justin Bieber to Bruce Springsteen to Paul McCartney was on tour. But according to Business Insider, Adele was the top-selling artist, and the average ticket price for her top show was $708. Now, that equivalent, whether it’s Taylor Swift or Beyoncé, would cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,800. That’s more than most people’s rent for the month. (We’ll get to that in just a minute.)
5. Owning a pet: 38% increase
Long gone are the days of having a pet that lives out in the yard and eats scraps from the dinner table. Even if pet owners don’t lavish their furry friends with pet spas, clothes and day care, the basics of food, vet visits and even adoption fees have gone way up over the years.
In 2016, having a cat or dog usually cost families between $1,000 and $2,000 per year. That’s now up to $4,272 … which is on the cheaper end. Puppies and kittens and senior animals typically cost a little more.
6. Going to the movies: 41% increase
Not even the likes of Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie can get us to the movie theater these days. The average ticket cost a mere $8.65 in 2016. Now the national average is double at $16.08. You might even pay more than $20 if you’re in a major city like New York or L.A.
Sure, some places in the country might offer lower prices or a great weekday matinee deal. But once you factor in the cost of popcorn, candy and a soda (which all cost more than the ticket itself), you’re spending too much, no matter what.
7. Hotels: 17.5% increase
You don’t need data to tell you there’s a difference (both financially and aesthetically) between a Ritz-Carlton and a Motel 6. But no matter which lodging is in your price range, you’re definitely paying more for a hotel than you used to—nearly 20% more, in fact. In 2016, the average was $123 a night; now, it’s $162.
8. Housing: 46% increase
Owning vs. renting. A studio vs. a one-, two- or three-bedroom. Living in a city vs. a suburb. So many things factor into the cost of housing. But whether you’re residing in a New York City walkup with three roommates or have a four-bedroom house in a Texas suburb, housing is noticeably more expensive than it used to be. On average, renting a one-bedroom used to cost $1,029. Now, it’s $1,698.
9. Car insurance: 44% increase
Getting a good deal on car insurance is almost harder than getting a good deal on the car itself. But no matter how safe you are behind the wheel, being a driver now is much more expensive than it was back in the day.
The national average to insure one car in 2016 was around $1,368. Now, you may pay up to $1,980 if you live in a major city.
10. Utilities: 51% increase
Utilities is a broad term, but today, it usually includes the cost of water, heating and cooling, electricity and gas, trash and recycling, and internet and cable.
This cost came in around $2,060 a year in 2016, according to Nationwide. Now, Homeguide reports that the annual cost is a whopping $6,000 to $7,200 per year. Ouch.
What caused these massive price increases?
Prices rise for many reasons: inflation, supply and demand shifts, labor shortages and global disruptions.
Take eggs, for example. When chickens in the U.S. became infected with the avian bird flu in late 2024, egg production decreased significantly, and the average price of a dozen skyrocketed 59% from roughly $2.50 to a record-high of $6.23 just a few months later—and a staggering 270% from the $1.68 the same eggs cost in 2016. (Thankfully, prices have eased a bit to an average of $3.59.)
But to be fair, there’s plenty of blame to go around. “It’s tempting to blame price increases on one event or even one politician,” says Brady. “But it’s a series of extreme events that have caused imbalances between supply and demand and led to sharp price increases over the last decade.”
That series of extreme events includes the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and as Brady notes, they not only disrupted supply chains and energy markets—they also created long-lasting ripple effects. Since living through so many unprecedented moments right now, it’s hitting us harder because so many of life’s line items have been affected.
What are people most upset about?
All of it! As one Reddit user put it: “Ten years ago, you could grab concert tickets, groceries and maybe even a spontaneous weekend trip without needing a financial advisor and a stress nap.”
And another Redditor points out: “Costs keep going up while wages stagnate.” In fact, according to CNBC, salaries have been stalled since the 1970s. Even though annual incomes have increased, they haven’t gone up as much as they used to. The cost of living? Sky high. Entertainment? Also sky high. Salaries? Barely off the ground. Just existing feels like a luxury these days—and even a decent meal and a glass of wine to unwind can feel out of reach. No wonder people are frustrated!
Will these prices ever go back down?
The short answer? Not likely. Brady says that while “there’s no way to accurately predict what will happen with inflation, most projections do not include a reversal of recent spikes.”
Instead, inflation will slowly decline toward 2% over the next few years, she notes. It’s a small win, but we’ll take it.
What’s the best way to minimize the pain of these price increases?
“There are two main ways you can adjust when you’re feeling financial pressure: Cut your spending and/or increase your income,” says Brady. “I always recommend aiming to increase your income annually, whether by finding a new job, negotiating a raise or otherwise. If you haven’t reexamined your spending in recent years, take the time to review your financial statements and find expenses that can be cut or eliminated.”
Cutting back doesn’t mean cutting out fun, however. Swap stadium shows for free concerts in the park. Attend minor league games as a live sports alternative. A matinee movie showtime is usually at least $5 cheaper, and if you’re craving takeout, go pick it up in person to save on the delivery fee, service charge and gratuity. A few simple changes to your favorite activities can make a big difference.
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Sources:
- Sarah C. Brady, financial expert and educator; interviewed, February 2026
- Visual Capitalist: “Where Inflation Has Risen the Most in the U.S.”
- Official Data: “The U.S. dollar has lost 26% its value since 2016”
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Consumer prices up 2.4 percent over the year ended January 2026”
- Money: “From Phones to Jewelry, These 7 Things Are Getting More Expensive in 2026”
- U.S. News & World Report: “More Price Increases Are Coming in 2026”
- USDA: “Food Price Outlook, 2026”
- CNBC: “How much eggs cost every year since 1980—in one chart”
- Reddit: “What used to be affordable 10 years ago but now feels like a luxury?”
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Consumer Expenditures in 2016”
- CNBC: “Here’s the inflation breakdown for January 2026 — in one chart”
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