1985 vs 2001
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+78.8%
Median Home
+105.4%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1985 Price | 2001 Price | Change | Hours 1985 | Hours 2001 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.80 | $0.93 | +16% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $1.00 | +81% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.20 | $1.46 | +22% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.24 | $1.71 | +39% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.76 | $1.11 | +45% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.94 | $3.25 | +68% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.58 | $3.09 | +20% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.30 | $3.70 | +61% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.09 | +14% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,318 | $3,735 | +183% | 116.1h | 184.0h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $11,450 | $22,457 | +96% | 1008.3h | 1106.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $352 | $605 | +72% | 31.0h | 29.8h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.50 | $43.32 | +26% | 3.0h | 2.1h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1985 to 2001, sorted by magnitude.
116.1h → 184.0h
harder
1008.3h → 1106.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1985 to 2001, sorted by magnitude.
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
3.0h → 2.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
31.0h → 29.8h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1985 ($23,620), you'd need $38,864 in 2001 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (107.6 → 177.0).