1990 vs 1999
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+35.9%
Median Home
+30.9%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1990 Price | 1999 Price | Change | Hours 1990 | Hours 1999 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.01 | $0.96 | -5% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.69 | $0.89 | +28% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.16 | $1.17 | +0% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.59 | $1.45 | -8% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.90 | $1.06 | +17% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.12 | $2.55 | +20% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.97 | $3.43 | +16% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.60 | $3.30 | +27% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.08 | $0.09 | +3% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $1,908 | $3,356 | +76% | 132.6h | 171.5h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $15,472 | $21,092 | +36% | 1074.9h | 1077.9h | Harder |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $436 | $559 | +28% | 30.3h | 28.6h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $35.30 | $35.05 | -1% | 2.5h | 1.8h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1990 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
132.6h → 171.5h
harder
1074.9h → 1077.9h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1990 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
2.5h → 1.8h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
30.3h → 28.6h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1990 ($29,940), you'd need $38,172 in 1999 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (130.7 → 166.6).