1996 vs 1998
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+9.6%
Median Home
+8.3%
Housing Labor
1.0x easier
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1996 Price | 1998 Price | Change | Hours 1996 | Hours 1998 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.11 | $1.04 | -6% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.88 | $0.86 | -2% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.62 | $2.70 | +3% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.23 | $1.06 | -14% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.37 | $1.41 | +3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $0.97 | $1.04 | +7% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.47 | $2.54 | +3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.43 | $3.77 | +10% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.86 | $3.13 | +9% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $4.93 | $5.07 | +3% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | -8% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $2,975 | $3,229 | +9% | 174.4h | 172.7h | Easier |
| 🚗 New Car | $19,828 | $20,686 | +4% | 1162.1h | 1106.4h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $510 | $542 | +6% | 29.9h | 29.0h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $37.05 | $32.08 | -13% | 2.2h | 1.7h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1996 to 1998, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1996 to 1998, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.2h → 1.7h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
1162.1h → 1106.4h
easier
29.9h → 29.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
174.4h → 172.7h
easier
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1996 ($35,490), you'd need $36,881 in 1998 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (156.9 → 163.0).