For a snapshot of the cost of living in 1988, this ad for Amarraca Supermarket. While the prices might look low, there has been inflation in the intervening years. According to this online inflation calculator, one dollar in 1980 was the equivalent of $2.74 in 2025 dollars.  So for the modern equivalent, you need to multiply the prices here by 2.74..  This ad appeared in the September 22, 1988, issue of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

What would you make for dinner in 1988?