1985 vs 1987
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+10.3%
Median Home
+24.2%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1985 Price | 1987 Price | Change | Hours 1985 | Hours 1987 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.80 | $0.78 | -3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $0.55 | -1% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.20 | $0.95 | -21% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.24 | $1.31 | +6% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.76 | $0.78 | +3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.94 | $2.14 | +10% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.58 | $2.79 | +8% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.30 | $2.46 | +7% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.08 | -3% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,318 | $1,537 | +17% | 116.1h | 122.7h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $11,450 | $12,922 | +13% | 1008.3h | 1031.4h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $352 | $388 | +10% | 31.0h | 31.0h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.50 | $28.03 | -19% | 3.0h | 2.2h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1985 to 1987, sorted by magnitude.
116.1h → 122.7h
harder
1008.3h → 1031.4h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1985 to 1987, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
3.0h → 2.2h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
31.0h → 31.0h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1985 ($23,620), you'd need $24,941 in 1987 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (107.6 → 113.6).