These past couple of years, it has been harder to live and survive in the American Society. The houses are more expensive, gas is more expensive, groceries are also more expensive. But what started this inflation? This inflation started around the time COVID-19 hit worldwide. Since then everything is so much more overpriced than what it used to be prior to the virus. I think living in America definitely isn’t affordable even if you’re supporting yourself or a family.
Housing used to be affordable and you’d get what you buy. But now house prices are drastically high and not for the price they should be. Nowadays a half a million dollar house is less than two-thousand square feet with not as many bedrooms and bathrooms. A house used to be priced at around two hundred thousand pre-pandemic and now priced at least five hundred thousand if not even more, post-pandemic. Housing is generally the largest expense for most Americans in today’s society. In expensive cities, rent or mortgage payments can consume a large portion of a person’s income. This situation is augmented by the rising property values and limited housing supply in favored areas. On the other hand, many regions in the Midwest and South offer more affordable housing options, which allows for residents to achieve homeownership more easily. Although other regions offer more affordable housing options, I think it’s still expensive to live in this era of society.
Gas is also another issue. Gas prices are outrageous and for so little. Although depending on the vehicle most pay almost a hundred dollars for a full gas tank. Some may pay as little as forty dollars. But many commute, and as much as they commute they tend to spend more on gas and especially if the vehicle they drive wastes more gas more frequently. Prior to the pandemic gas prices were around a dollar or two for a gallon but throughout the years to current 2025, gas prices have risen by three to five dollars per gallon.
Groceries have also had a major increase in prices since the pandemic. A carton of eggs can vary from eighteen dollars to forty dollars depending on the store location and a gallon of milk can vary from three to seven dollars. Whereas before, eggs and milk would’ve been around ten or two dollars. There has been a price increase in the pounds of fruits and vegetables. Nowadays a pound could cost you from about two dollars to four dollars, just for a pound.
All in all, I don’t think living in America is affordable. Living with these gas prices, house prices, and groceries prices makes it harder for us to survive in today’s society. Especially if you’re an individual supporting yourself or supporting a family, it could be harder to spend on necessities and wants because of such a high inflation rate.
