Everyday Costs
School Lunch
Average cost to produce one free school lunch under NSLP
$4
4,330,708,661funded with the war budget
Source: USDA
Gallon of Gas
National average price per gallon of regular gasoline
$4
4,714,285,714funded with the war budget
Source: AAA
Bag of Groceries
Average spending per grocery store trip for a US household
$35
471,428,571funded with the war budget
Source: FMI / USDA
Month of Diapers
Average monthly diaper cost for one baby
$80
206,250,000funded with the war budget
Source: National Diaper Bank Network
Monthly Internet Bill
Average monthly cost of home broadband internet service
$75
220,000,000funded with the war budget
Source: FCC / BLS
Bus Fare
Average single-ride fare on US public transit
$3
6,000,000,000funded with the war budget
Source: APTA
Doctor Visit
Average primary care office visit without insurance
$171
96,491,228funded with the war budget
Source: HCCI
Ambulance Ride
Average ground ambulance bill in the United States
$1,277
12,920,908funded with the war budget
Source: KFF
Year of Insulin
Annual out-of-pocket insulin cost for an uninsured diabetic
$6,000
2,750,000funded with the war budget
Source: KFF / RAND
Investing in People
Year of College (In-State)
Average in-state tuition and fees at a public 4-year institution
$11,371
1,451,059funded with the war budget
Source: College Board 2025-26
Teacher Salary (1 Year)
Average US public school teacher salary
$74,200
222,371funded with the war budget
Source: NEA 2025
Student Loan Forgiven
Average outstanding federal student loan balance per borrower
$37,850
435,931funded with the war budget
Source: Federal Reserve / Education Data Initiative 2025
Build a Public Library
Average cost to construct a new public library
$20.0M
825funded with the war budget
Source: ALA
Build an Elementary School
Average cost to construct a new elementary school
$40.0M
412funded with the war budget
Source: NCES
Building Things
Median Home
Median existing-home sale price in the US
$435,000
37,931funded with the war budget
Source: NAR Jan 2026
Public Playground
Average community playground construction cost
$500,000
33,000funded with the war budget
Source: NRPA
Pothole Filled
Average cost to fill a single pothole on a US road
$50
330,000,000funded with the war budget
Source: TRIP / ARTBA
Solar Panel Installation
Average cost to install residential rooftop solar before tax credits
$25,000
660,000funded with the war budget
Source: EnergySage / SEIA 2025
Fire Truck
Average cost of a new fire engine or ladder truck
$1.0M
16,500funded with the war budget
Source: NFPA
Build a Fire Station
Average new fire station construction cost
$8.0M
2,062funded with the war budget
Source: NFPA
Build a Hospital
Average cost to build a community hospital
$150.0M
110funded with the war budget
Source: AHA / RSMeans 2025
Policies They Say We "Can't Afford"
End Homelessness (1 Year)
Estimated annual cost to provide housing to every unhoused American
$20.00B
121.2%of the war budget
Source: HUD / National Alliance to End Homelessness
Universal School Meals (1 Year)
Cost to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student nationwide
$21.00B
127.3%of the war budget
Source: USDA NSLP estimates
Universal Pre-K (1 Year)
Annual cost of universal pre-K for all 3 and 4-year-olds
$35.10B
212.7%of the war budget
Source: Penn Wharton Budget Model
Universal Childcare (1 Year)
Federal cost of universal childcare for ages 0-4
$70.00B
424.2%of the war budget
Source: Moody's Analytics
Paid Parental Leave (12 Weeks)
Cost of 12 weeks paid leave at the national median weekly wage for one new parent
$13,740
1,200,873funded with the war budget
Source: CBO / BLS median wage 2025
Fund SNAP for a Year
Full annual budget for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
$101.70B
616.4%of the war budget
Source: FY2025 federal budget
The Real Cost of War
Since February 27, 2026, the United States has spent $16.50B on its war with Iran. That is $1,375,000,000 every single day, or $15,914 every second. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is now asking Congress for an additional $200 billion to continue the campaign.
That money could have paid the salaries of 222K teachers, built 110 hospitals, or provided 2.8M years of insulin to Americans who cannot afford it.
It could have ended homelessness in America for 0.8 years, funded universal pre-K for 0.5 years, and fed every student in America for 0.8 years, all at the same time, and there would still be billions left over.
They tell you universal childcare is too expensive. They tell you we cannot afford to feed every student in America. They tell you ending homelessness is a pipe dream. But somehow, there is always money for another war.