What Did It Cost in 1990?

How to play

Every day you get five everyday items — a dozen eggs, a gallon of gas, a pound of coffee — and four possible prices. Pick what you think it cost in 1990. After each guess you'll see the real 1990 price, what the same thing cost on average in 2025, and how many times more expensive it got. Get through all five to see your score, then come back tomorrow for a new set. Play every day to build your streak.

Everyone gets the same five items on the same day, so you can compare scores with friends and family. Share the game, not the answers!

Where the prices come from

All grocery, gas and electricity prices are real averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Average Price Data, which tracks what people pay for common items across U.S. cities. For 1990 we use the average of that year's twelve monthly prices; for today we use the average of the monthly prices published for 2025. The postage stamp price comes from the USPS rate history and the minimum wage from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Prices are U.S. city averages, so what you pay in your town can be higher or lower.

Not everything went up the same

Some items barely moved over 35 years, while others got several times more expensive. Which ones? That's the game — play first, then see the full list of all 20 prices with their sources on the answers page (spoilers!). It's one reason swapping a few expensive items on your receipt can make such a difference — see our cheap grocery swaps.

Why this matters for your budget

Prices rising over time is why a budget from a few years ago may not fit today, and why sinking funds work better when you round up. It's also a good reminder that money sitting in a drawer slowly buys less. That doesn't mean you need to do anything complicated — just that it helps to check your budget once a year. Our January budget reset takes about an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Where do the 1990 prices come from?

Grocery, gas and electricity prices come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price Data (U.S. city average). We use the average of the twelve monthly prices in 1990 and the average of the monthly prices published for 2025. The stamp price comes from USPS rate history and the minimum wage from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Does the game change every day?

Yes. Everyone gets the same five items on the same day, picked from a list of 20 real prices. Come back tomorrow for a new set and keep your streak alive.

How is my streak saved?

In your browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us. Clearing your browser data resets it.

Why are prices so much higher today?

Mostly inflation: the general rise in prices over time. Some items also changed for their own reasons, like crop prices, energy costs or, in the case of eggs, bird flu outbreaks that hit supply in 2025.

For general information and fun only — not financial advice. Disclaimer.