<story><title>What things cost in Ancient Rome (2007)</title><url>https://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/edict/</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>mbil</author><text>I forget where I read this, but haircut cost can be used as a reasonable reference point for translating old prices into today&amp;#x27;s dollars. Modern basic haircutting is quite similar to what it always has been, and takes about the same amount of time. So saying a haircut costs $50 in a big city now, and it was 2 denarii communes in Ancient Rome: 1 d.c. == $25.&lt;p&gt;Here is general labor data in today&amp;#x27;s dollars&lt;p&gt;&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;  | labor                                                                  | $USD | d.c. |
  |:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|:-----|:-----|
  | brick maker, for every 4 fired bricks and preparation of the clay      | 50   | 2    |
  | brick maker, for every 8 sun dried bricks, and preparation of the clay | 50   | 2    |
  | clerk (based on specified bath attendant wage)                         | 625  | 25   |
  | farm laborer, with maintenance                                         | 625  | 25   |
  | lime burner, with maintenance                                          | 1250 | 50   |
  | mule driver, camel driver, with maintenance                            | 625  | 25   |
  | sewer cleaner, working a full day, with maintenance                    | 625  | 25   |
  | shepherd, with maintenance                                             | 625  | 25   |
  | water carrier, working a full day, with maintenance                    | 625  | 25   |
  | all other general labor                                                | 625  | 25   |
  
 I put the whole set in a file here: https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;matthewbilyeu.com&amp;#x2F;what-things-cost-ancient-rome.txt&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;</text></comment>
<story><title>What things cost in Ancient Rome (2007)</title><url>https://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/edict/</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>Ralfp</author><text>As a slav I find it amusing how free grain from gov was called by &amp;quot;dole&amp;quot; by Romans where we have concept of &amp;quot;dola&amp;quot; which used to be your patron spirit quietly influencing your life but in modern times its basically something you&amp;#x27;ve got that you&amp;#x27;ve deserved (according to higher force or destiny), be it thing, health, wealth or life experience.</text></comment>