1998 vs 1999
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
+4.7%
Median Home
+5.4%
Housing Labor
1.0x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 1998 Price | 1999 Price | Change | Hours 1998 | Hours 1999 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.04 | $0.96 | -8% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🍞 Bread | $0.86 | $0.89 | +3% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.70 | $2.84 | +5% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.06 | $1.17 | +10% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.41 | $1.45 | +3% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.04 | $1.06 | +1% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $2.54 | $2.55 | +0% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $3.77 | $3.43 | -9% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.13 | $3.30 | +5% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Harder |
| 🍬 Sugar | $5.07 | $5.24 | +3% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Easier |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | -1% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $3,229 | $3,356 | +4% | 172.7h | 171.5h | Easier |
| 🚗 New Car | $20,686 | $21,092 | +2% | 1106.4h | 1077.9h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $542 | $559 | +3% | 29.0h | 28.6h | Easier |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $32.08 | $35.05 | +9% | 1.7h | 1.8h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $4.78 | $5.03 | +5% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 1998 to 1999, sorted by magnitude.
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
1.7h → 1.8h
harder
0.2h → 0.2h
harder
0.3h → 0.3h
harder
0.1h → 0.1h
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 1998 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
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
1106.4h → 1077.9h
easier
0.1h → 0.1h
easier
29.0h → 28.6h
easier
0.0h → 0.0h
easier
0.3h → 0.3h
easier
172.7h → 171.5h
easier
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 1998 ($38,890), you'd need $39,743 in 1999 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (163.0 → 166.6).