1987 vs 2005
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+77.8%
Median Home
+125.9%
Housing Labor
1.3x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1987 Price | 2005 Price | Change | Hours 1987 | Hours 2005 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.78 | $1.22 | +56% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $1.04 | +90% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $0.95 | $2.30 | +142% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.31 | $2.30 | +75% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.78 | $1.06 | +35% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.14 | $3.39 | +58% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.79 | $3.26 | +17% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.46 | $3.74 | +52% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.10 | +27% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,537 | $5,351 | +248% | 122.7h | 240.2h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $12,922 | $25,164 | +95% | 1031.4h | 1129.7h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $388 | $685 | +76% | 31.0h | 30.7h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $28.03 | $68.19 | +143% | 2.2h | 3.1h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1987 to 2005, sorted by magnitude.
122.7h → 240.2h
harder
2.2h → 3.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1031.4h → 1129.7h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1987 to 2005, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
31.0h → 30.7h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1987 ($26,060), you'd need $44,788 in 2005 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (113.6 → 195.3).