But it does seem to me that rentals in Manhattan have gotten a lot less affordable since 1980. (Manhattan in the 80s was not a particularly posh place, at least not throughout. There was probably more divergence in rents between neighborhoods in the 80s than now). It would take some more specific investigation than national median wages to investigate that. (Note, though, the median income in Manhattan specifically may have outpaced inflation as lower-earners get priced out).

But, as far as inflation and wages, yeah, inflation year after year means salaries in the 80s seem like very low numbers to us now.