In 1950, the average U.S. salary was $2,570 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.27 and median rent was $42.00 a month. A dollar from 1950 buys what $13.99 buys today.
| Item | 1950 | 1950 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $2,570 | $35,965 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $38.55 | $539 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | $0.60 | $8.40 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | $0.83 | $11.62 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $1.24 | $17.35 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $4.05 | $56.68 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $55.00 | $770 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $42.00 | $588 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $37.62 | $526 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $125 | $1,749 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | $0.46 | $6.44 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | $0.20 | $2.80 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | $6.00 | $83.97 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $1.50 | $20.99 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $110 | $1,539 | $11,993 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | $160 | $2,239 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.03 | $0.42 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1950. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).