1994 vs 1998
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+20.6%
Median Home
+16.5%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1994 Price | 1998 Price | Change | Hours 1994 | Hours 1998 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $0.86 | $1.04 | +20% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.76 | $0.86 | +13% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.11 | $1.06 | -5% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.48 | $1.41 | -4% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.90 | $1.04 | +16% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $1.99 | $2.54 | +28% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.40 | $3.77 | +11% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.63 | $3.13 | +19% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | -6% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $2,681 | $3,229 | +20% | 172.9h | 172.7h | Easier |
| 🚗 New Car | $18,657 | $20,686 | +11% | 1202.9h | 1106.4h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $485 | $542 | +12% | 31.3h | 29.0h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $34.37 | $32.08 | -7% | 2.2h | 1.7h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1994 to 1998, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1994 to 1998, sorted by magnitude.
2.2h → 1.7h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
1202.9h → 1106.4h
easier
31.3h → 29.0h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
172.9h → 172.7h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1994 ($32,260), you'd need $35,477 in 1998 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (148.2 → 163.0).