In 1956, the average U.S. salary was $3,532 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.29 and median rent was about $57.88 a month. A dollar from 1956 buys what $12.40 buys today.
| Item | 1956 | 1956 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,532 | $43,794 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $70.64 | $876 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$7.21 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.93 | ≈$11.51 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.43 | ≈$17.72 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.41 | ≈$54.66 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$73.61 | ≈$913 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$57.88 | ≈$718 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$53.29 | ≈$661 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$182 | ≈$2,258 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.59 | ≈$7.27 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.23 | ≈$2.90 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$9.09 | ≈$113 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$1.67 | ≈$20.74 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$147 | ≈$1,825 | $11,993 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$188 | ≈$2,335 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.03 | $0.37 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1956. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).