1997 vs 1999
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+10.0%
Median Home
+10.4%
Housing Labor
1.0x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1997 Price | 1999 Price | Change | Hours 1997 | Hours 1999 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.06 | $0.96 | -9% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.87 | $0.89 | +2% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.61 | $2.84 | +9% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.23 | $1.17 | -6% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.40 | $1.45 | +4% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.00 | $1.06 | +5% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.68 | $2.55 | -5% | 0.2h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $4.11 | $3.43 | -17% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $2.92 | $3.30 | +13% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍬 Sugar | $5.17 | $5.24 | +1% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | -8% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $3,111 | $3,356 | +8% | 174.8h | 171.5h | Easier |
| 🚗 New Car | $20,276 | $21,092 | +4% | 1139.5h | 1077.9h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $525 | $559 | +6% | 29.5h | 28.6h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $37.03 | $35.05 | -5% | 2.1h | 1.8h | Easier |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $4.69 | $5.03 | +7% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1997 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1997 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
0.2h → 0.2h
easier
0.1h → 0.0h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
2.1h → 1.8h
easier
0.2h → 0.1h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
1139.5h → 1077.9h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
29.5h → 28.6h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
174.8h → 171.5h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1997 ($37,010), you'd need $38,407 in 1999 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (160.5 → 166.6).