1987 vs 1997
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+42.0%
Median Home
+38.5%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1987 Price | 1997 Price | Change | Hours 1987 | Hours 1997 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.78 | $1.06 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $0.87 | +59% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $0.95 | $1.23 | +30% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.31 | $1.40 | +7% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.78 | $1.00 | +28% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.14 | $2.68 | +25% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.79 | $4.11 | +48% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.46 | $2.92 | +19% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.09 | +19% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,537 | $3,111 | +102% | 122.7h | 174.8h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $12,922 | $20,276 | +57% | 1031.4h | 1139.5h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $388 | $525 | +35% | 31.0h | 29.5h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $28.03 | $37.03 | +32% | 2.2h | 2.1h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1987 to 1997, sorted by magnitude.
122.7h → 174.8h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
1031.4h → 1139.5h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1987 to 1997, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.2h → 2.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
31.0h → 29.5h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1987 ($26,060), you'd need $36,819 in 1997 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (113.6 → 160.5).