1987 vs 2011
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+92.1%
Median Home
+114.8%
Housing Labor
1.1x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1987 Price | 2011 Price | Change | Hours 1987 | Hours 2011 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.78 | $1.77 | +126% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $1.44 | +164% | 0.0h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $0.95 | $3.53 | +272% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.31 | $2.77 | +112% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.78 | $1.29 | +65% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.14 | $4.63 | +116% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.79 | $5.19 | +86% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.46 | $4.93 | +100% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.13 | +64% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,537 | $7,713 | +402% | 122.7h | 320.5h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $12,922 | $30,659 | +137% | 1031.4h | 1274.1h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $388 | $799 | +106% | 31.0h | 33.2h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $28.03 | $105 | +276% | 2.2h | 4.4h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1987 to 2011, sorted by magnitude.
122.7h → 320.5h
harder
2.2h → 4.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.0h → 0.1h
harder
1031.4h → 1274.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
31.0h → 33.2h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1987 to 2011, sorted by magnitude.
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1987 ($26,060), you'd need $51,590 in 2011 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (113.6 → 224.9).