1987 vs 2022
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+186.2%
Median Home
+313.5%
Housing Labor
1.4x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1987 Price | 2022 Price | Change | Hours 1987 | Hours 2022 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.78 | $2.86 | +265% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.55 | $1.70 | +211% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $0.95 | $4.09 | +332% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.31 | $4.81 | +267% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.78 | $1.80 | +129% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.14 | $7.31 | +241% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.79 | $5.89 | +112% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.46 | $5.43 | +121% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.16 | +101% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,537 | $9,750 | +534% | 122.7h | 271.9h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $12,922 | $48,008 | +272% | 1031.4h | 1338.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $388 | $1,166 | +201% | 31.0h | 32.5h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $28.03 | $121 | +333% | 2.2h | 3.4h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1987 to 2022, sorted by magnitude.
122.7h → 271.9h
harder
2.2h → 3.4h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1031.4h → 1338.9h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.0h → 0.0h
harder
31.0h → 32.5h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1987 to 2022, sorted by magnitude.
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1987 ($26,060), you'd need $67,119 in 2022 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (113.6 → 292.6).