1985 vs 1999
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+72.3%
Median Home
+90.0%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1985 Price | 1999 Price | Change | Hours 1985 | Hours 1999 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.80 | $0.96 | +19% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $0.89 | +60% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.20 | $1.17 | -3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.24 | $1.45 | +17% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.76 | $1.06 | +38% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.94 | $2.55 | +31% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.58 | $3.43 | +33% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.30 | $3.30 | +43% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.09 | +6% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,318 | $3,356 | +155% | 116.1h | 171.5h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $11,450 | $21,092 | +84% | 1008.3h | 1077.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $352 | $559 | +59% | 31.0h | 28.6h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.50 | $35.05 | +2% | 3.0h | 1.8h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1985 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
116.1h → 171.5h
harder
1008.3h → 1077.9h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1985 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
3.0h → 1.8h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
31.0h → 28.6h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1985 ($23,620), you'd need $36,568 in 1999 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (107.6 → 166.6).