(KMID/KPEJ) – Remember how inflation affected Kevin McAllister from Home Alone? A meme that started circulating in late 2023 says that the $19.83 cost of shipping groceries will cost $72.28 in 2023. dollar, indicating a nearly 250% increase in price.
Inflation continues to impact families across the country, and the team at online casino Jeff Bet has collected data comparing the current cost of living for TV's most beloved Friends characters.
In celebration of the show's next 30th On the anniversary, JeffBet analyzed how much the characters' lifestyles cost today compared to the show's premiere in 1994. According to the data, these costs have increased by about 108% over his 30 years.
The study compared not only rent data, but also data on non-essentials such as going out for coffee, eating out, and ordering pizza in New York, and estimated each character's annual living costs to a realistic salary in 2024. We compared this to determine whether the cast was appropriate. The New York lifestyle would still be relevant today.
Let's see what each character earns today and how much it costs to maintain their lifestyle.
ross geller
First up is Ross Geller, a self-deprecating and resourceful paleontologist. The study found that living in New York would cost Ross $66,440.64 in 2024. Ross's main expense was rent, making her the biggest expense in the group. For the majority of Friends, Ross lives alone in a two-bedroom apartment, which will now cost him a staggering $57,672 in annual fees.
Daily coffee trips were also expensive for Ross. According to this study, going out for coffee every day would realistically cost each character $2,096.64 per year.
But according to Glassdoor data, Ross will likely be able to manage to afford his expensive lifestyle in 2024. As a paleontologist in New York, Ross says he will earn an impressive average salary of $280,625, leaving him with $214,184.36 in reserves.
At the time the show premiered in 1994, Ross' lifestyle would have cost her $31,781.03 on a salary of approximately $134,223.36. According to the study, this would leave Ross with $104,442.33, which does not take into account additional child support for her son, Ben. Despite being ridiculed by the other members of the group due to his nerdy occupation, Ross' career makes him the richest member of the group.
Joey Tribbiani
Next up is Joey Tribbiani, the group's regular flirt and gourmand. According to the study, Joey has the second most expensive lifestyle of the main cast of Friends, costing him $44,428.64 a year in 2024.
Dating is a big part of Joey's life, and going out to dinner about five times a week will set him back $9,035 in 2024. Also, ordering her takeout pizza at least twice a week would cost Joey $2,600 a year.
As an aspiring actor, Joey's average salary in 2024 will be $25,738. This means that it is very unlikely that he will be able to support himself today. Research shows that this character's expensive lifestyle causes him to be in debt of $12,647.61.
At the time of the show's release, Joey's lifestyle cost $21,251.87 and his salary was approximately $12,311.44. Although her character's salary fluctuates with each acting job, it's unlikely that Joey could have afforded to pay her rent and have an active social life in both 1994 and 2024.
rachel green
Despite cutting herself off from her wealthy father's income in the opening episode, Rachel Green still lives a fairly lavish lifestyle during her time on Friends. Research shows that Rachel's active social life and rent will cost her $39,514.64 in 2024.
Although splitting the rent with Monica was very beneficial for the character financially, living in a spacious two-bedroom apartment in the heart of New York still costs Rachel $28,836 a year. Masu. Such an active social life, which also requires hailing a taxi from time to time, adds up to $884 a year.
By the end of the series, Rachel has achieved her dream of becoming a fashion industry executive, earning a whopping average salary of $164,957 in 2024. According to the research, Rachel will be left with $125,442.36 of her surplus.
But for the first three seasons of Friends, Rachel infamously worked as a waitress in Central Perk, which would have earned her an average salary of $20,215 in 2024. It is doubtful whether Rachel could have achieved that while he worked as a waitress. She could afford to live in New York and was left with $19,299.64 in debt.
In 1994, Rachel would have earned a low salary of $9,669.59 per year while trying to maintain a lifestyle of $18,901.32 per year. This means that at the time of the show's release, it was unrealistic for her to survive without her father's income.
monica geller
Monica Geller's average salary as a Head Chef in New York is $84,449 in 2024. However, her character's lifestyle would result in a difference of $39,514.64.
In the show's early seasons, Monica was often seen going out on dates, and eating out approximately three times a week would cost her $5,421 a year. However, Monica certainly had an advantage by living in her grandmother's rent-controlled apartment, which she illegally sublet. If your apartment wasn't rent-controlled, it would cost you $28,836 a year in 2024.
However, the character still has $44,934.36 left over due to Monica's illustrious career. That said, Monica, who served briefly as a waitress in seasons 2 and 3 of the show, would definitely have been in financial trouble. Monica's average salary during these seasons was $20,215, meaning she had $24,719.36 in debt.
phoebe buffay
Phoebe Buffay works a variety of jobs throughout the show, but the lovable misfit primarily works as a masseuse while busking on the side. Phoebe will earn her average salary of $21,715 in 2024 with these two of her careers. However, her expensive lifestyle would result in a difference of $39,514.64.
One of Phoebe's main expenses is rent, which would have cost her $28,836 a year if she had actually split the cost 50-50 with her off-screen roommate Dennis. Going to the movies regularly with your gang members costs $455 a year.
It's doubtful whether Phoebe will be able to afford to live in New York in 2024, as she has a staggering $17,799.64 in debt. In 1994, Phoebe's lifestyle cost her $18,901.32 on a salary of approximately $10,387.09, making living in New York financially impossible.
chandler bing
Towards the end of the series, Chandler Bing makes the courageous decision to change careers to become a junior advertising copywriter. Although this position had a lower salary than his previous position, Chandler's average salary will still take him to $79,436 in 2024. However, due to his lifestyle, Chandler's annual royalties are his $39,372.64.
Smoking was one of Chandler's vices in the early seasons of Friends, and this habit currently costs him $1,768 a year. Even though Chandler has never been to the gym, he finds himself paying a monthly membership fee because he has a romantic interest in one of the women at the gym. In 2024, membership at this New York gym will cost $1,704 per year.
Despite these additional costs, Chandler was left with $40,063.36, enough to make ends meet. In 1994, Chandler's lifestyle should cost him $18,833.40. Still, his previous job as a statistical analysis and data reconstruction worker would have earned him an average salary of $63,273.00, making him one of the richest characters on Friends. Masu.
A JeffBet spokesperson commented on the findings: “It's incredible that Friends is still so popular almost 30 years after the show's original release, but this is largely because the show provides escapism from real life. Although the show occasionally talks about Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe's financial hardships, Friends ultimately provides viewers with a respite from everyday life, which is what the show continues to do 30 years later. This is why it continues to fascinate its fan base even today. ”