1985 vs 2013
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+126.9%
Median Home
+215.9%
Housing Labor
1.4x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1985 Price | 2013 Price | Change | Hours 1985 | Hours 2013 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.80 | $1.91 | +138% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $1.41 | +154% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.20 | $3.53 | +193% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.24 | $3.40 | +175% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.76 | $1.50 | +96% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.94 | $5.29 | +173% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.58 | $5.45 | +111% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.30 | $4.99 | +117% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.13 | +63% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,318 | $8,312 | +531% | 116.1h | 322.6h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $11,450 | $32,086 | +180% | 1008.3h | 1245.4h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $352 | $843 | +140% | 31.0h | 32.7h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.50 | $106 | +207% | 3.0h | 4.1h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1985 to 2013, sorted by magnitude.
116.1h → 322.6h
harder
3.0h → 4.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1008.3h → 1245.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
31.0h → 32.7h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1985 to 2013, sorted by magnitude.
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1985 ($23,620), you'd need $51,137 in 2013 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (107.6 → 233.0).