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 $12.58 buys today.
| Item | 1955 | 1955 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,301 | $41,541 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $66.02 | $831 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$7.36 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.91 | ≈$11.46 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $1.40 | $17.62 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $4.35 | $54.74 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $70.00 | $881 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $55.00 | $692 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $49.65 | $625 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $170 | $2,139 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.56 | ≈$7.09 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.23 | ≈$2.87 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$8.49 | ≈$107 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $1.60 | $20.14 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $140 | $1,762 | $11,993 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$183 | ≈$2,307 | $444 |
| 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).