In 1955, the average U.S. salary was $3,301 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.29 and median rent was $55.00 a month. A dollar from 1955 buys what $12.51 buys today.
| Item | 1955 | 1955 in today’s dollars | Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,301 | $41,299 | $74,400 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $66.02 | $826 | $5,692 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$7.32 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.91 | ≈$11.40 | $4.15 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $1.40 | $17.52 | $13.60 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $4.35 | $54.42 | $66.60 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $70.00 | $876 | $1,740 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $55.00 | $688 | $1,560 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $49.65 | $621 | $2,721 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $170 | $2,127 | $4,380 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.56 | ≈$7.05 | $11.55 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.23 | ≈$2.85 | $8.65 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$8.49 | ≈$106 | $164 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $1.60 | $20.02 | $39.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $140 | $1,752 | $11,800 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$183 | ≈$2,293 | $435 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.03 | $0.38 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1955. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).