Pretend, for a moment, that it is possible to travel back in a time machine.
It’s 1985, and you’ve decided to get your own place.
The $500 monthly rent for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has been killing you – but the recent job promotion bumped up your annual salary to $35,000. (The median rent for a home in the United States was $481 in 1980 and $571 in 1990. The median household income in 1985 was $23,620.)
In the mid-80s, houses in Tallahassee were among the most affordable in the state, with average costs around $62,500 – significantly lower than the national median home price of $84,000. (Today, the average price of a Tallahassee home is about $320,000.)
After a couple of hours of house hunting, you’ve worked up an appetite. You opt for the $2.59 Meal Deal at McDonalds that includes a Big Mac, large fries, and a large Coke. The 20-piece Nuggets is on the menu for $1.85. The price for a McDLT is $1.95. A Filet-O-Fish sandwich is $1.35. Hamburgers and cheeseburgers go for $0.39 and $0.50, respectively.
A better choice might have been the large-size Burger King Whopper Meal for $3.49. You’re hungry but not hungry enough for the Arby’s “10-for-10” special – that’s 10 roast-beef sandwiches for $10.
The next stop after lunch is the gas station. With all the running around, the ’85 Buick Skyhawk is down on fuel. The vehicle, which was purchased new for $8,999, is filled up with unleaded regular at $1.20 a gallon.
The Skyhawk is also overdue for an oil change. The advertised cost for an oil change is around $12.95 to $15.95 for conventional oil and a filter. (Oil type in 1985 is almost exclusively conventional oil, as synthetic is not common for standard vehicles. Today, a synthetic oil change will cost between $50 and $100.)
But the synthetic oil is worth it.
You have come to realize that, despite everything costing more, all in all, things have drastically improved in 2026.
Today’s homes are generally larger and often include more modern amenities, such as open floor plans, extra bathrooms, and improved energy efficiency. They’re built to stricter energy and safety codes.
Fast-food chains (even McDonald’s and Burger King) offer healthier options like grilled proteins, salads, and customized bowls, avoiding deep-fried items and heavy sauces.
Among the top choices is a Chipotle salad or burrito bowl with brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, and chicken or sofritas (skip the sour cream). Chick-fil-A restaurants, seemingly popping up everywhere, serve grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled nuggets, and “cool wraps.”
New cars outclass older cars in every way. They’re made better and last longer. They are faster, better handling, more stylish, more comfortable. The hybrids get 40-plus miles to the gallon.
We have iphones, ipads, CD players. Blockbuster Video? Nah. From your own living room, cable TV hookups enable you to pick from hundreds of movies and sporting events.
The myriad of advances in modern medicine over the past half-century has enhanced the quality of care for patients – and allowed for longer lives.
Oh, and a wonderful development for hospital employees is the bigger salaries. The extra money helps pay for the occasional pizza or chicken wings splurge. (You can’t eat healthy all the time.)
Things really aren’t that bad.
No, there is no reason for a time machine.
Mark Ryan is a Tallahassee RN.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Would you go back to 1985? Even fast food is better in 2026
Reporting by Mark Ryan, Guest columnist / Tallahassee Democrat
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