1992 vs 1998
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+26.9%
Median Home
+25.2%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1992 Price | 1998 Price | Change | Hours 1992 | Hours 1998 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.86 | $1.04 | +21% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.75 | $0.86 | +15% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.13 | $1.06 | -6% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.54 | $1.41 | -8% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.87 | $1.04 | +20% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.92 | $2.54 | +33% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.58 | $3.77 | +46% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.58 | $3.13 | +21% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | -1% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $2,349 | $3,229 | +37% | 159.5h | 172.7h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $17,109 | $20,686 | +21% | 1161.4h | 1106.4h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $463 | $542 | +17% | 31.4h | 29.0h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.64 | $32.08 | -7% | 2.4h | 1.7h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1992 to 1998, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
159.5h → 172.7h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1992 to 1998, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.4h → 1.7h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
31.4h → 29.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
1161.4h → 1106.4h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1992 ($30,640), you'd need $35,597 in 1998 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (140.3 → 163.0).