1987 vs 2006
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+85.0%
Median Home
+132.8%
Housing Labor
1.3x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1987 Price | 2006 Price | Change | Hours 1987 | Hours 2006 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.78 | $1.31 | +67% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $1.08 | +97% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $0.95 | $2.59 | +173% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.31 | $2.22 | +70% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.78 | $1.05 | +34% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.14 | $3.44 | +61% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.79 | $3.20 | +15% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.46 | $3.75 | +52% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.11 | +42% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,537 | $5,666 | +269% | 122.7h | 244.5h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $12,922 | $25,950 | +101% | 1031.4h | 1119.8h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $388 | $709 | +83% | 31.0h | 30.6h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $28.03 | $76.82 | +174% | 2.2h | 3.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1987 to 2006, sorted by magnitude.
122.7h → 244.5h
harder
2.2h → 3.3h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1031.4h → 1119.8h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1987 to 2006, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
31.0h → 30.6h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1987 ($26,060), you'd need $46,231 in 2006 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (113.6 → 201.6).