1992 vs 1997
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+20.8%
Median Home
+19.5%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1992 Price | 1997 Price | Change | Hours 1992 | Hours 1997 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.86 | $1.06 | +23% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.75 | $0.87 | +16% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.13 | $1.23 | +10% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.54 | $1.40 | -9% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.87 | $1.00 | +15% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.92 | $2.68 | +40% | 0.1h | 0.2h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.58 | $4.11 | +60% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.58 | $2.92 | +13% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | +7% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $2,349 | $3,111 | +32% | 159.5h | 174.8h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $17,109 | $20,276 | +19% | 1161.4h | 1139.5h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $463 | $525 | +13% | 31.4h | 29.5h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.64 | $37.03 | +7% | 2.4h | 2.1h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1992 to 1997, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.1h → 0.2h
harder
159.5h → 174.8h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1992 to 1997, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.4h → 2.1h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
31.4h → 29.5h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
1161.4h → 1139.5h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1992 ($30,640), you'd need $35,055 in 1997 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (140.3 → 160.5).