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 $13.91 buys today.
| Item | 1950 | 1950 in today’s dollars | Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $2,570 | $35,756 | $74,400 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $38.55 | $536 | $5,692 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | $0.60 | $8.35 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | $0.83 | $11.55 | $4.15 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $1.24 | $17.25 | $13.60 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $4.05 | $56.35 | $66.60 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $55.00 | $765 | $1,740 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $42.00 | $584 | $1,560 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $37.62 | $523 | $2,721 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $125 | $1,739 | $4,380 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | $0.46 | $6.40 | $11.55 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | $0.20 | $2.78 | $8.65 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | $6.00 | $83.48 | $164 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $1.50 | $20.87 | $39.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $110 | $1,530 | $11,800 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | $160 | $2,226 | $435 |
| 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).