In 1957, the average U.S. salary was $3,642 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.30 and median rent was about $60.91 a month. A dollar from 1957 buys what $12.00 buys today.
| Item | 1957 | 1957 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,642 | $43,712 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $81.95 | $984 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$6.95 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.95 | ≈$11.35 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.46 | ≈$17.50 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.47 | ≈$53.62 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$77.40 | ≈$929 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$60.91 | ≈$731 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$57.28 | ≈$687 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$195 | ≈$2,342 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.61 | ≈$7.33 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.24 | ≈$2.88 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$9.75 | ≈$117 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$1.75 | ≈$21.00 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$155 | ≈$1,858 | $11,993 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$194 | ≈$2,323 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.03 | $0.36 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1957. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).