1986 vs 1996
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+42.5%
Median Home
+52.4%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1986 Price | 1996 Price | Change | Hours 1986 | Hours 1996 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.87 | $1.11 | +27% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.56 | $0.88 | +55% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $0.93 | $1.23 | +33% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.23 | $1.37 | +11% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.83 | $0.97 | +16% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.08 | $2.47 | +19% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.43 | $3.43 | -0% | 0.3h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.36 | $2.86 | +21% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.09 | +23% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,414 | $2,975 | +110% | 118.1h | 174.4h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $12,319 | $19,828 | +61% | 1029.1h | 1162.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $373 | $510 | +37% | 31.1h | 29.9h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $26.99 | $37.05 | +37% | 2.3h | 2.2h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1986 to 1996, sorted by magnitude.
118.1h → 174.4h
harder
1029.1h → 1162.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1986 to 1996, sorted by magnitude.
0.3h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
31.1h → 29.9h
easier
2.3h → 2.2h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1986 ($24,900), you'd need $35,607 in 1996 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (109.7 → 156.9).