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 $11.93 buys today.
| Item | 1957 | 1957 in today’s dollars | Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,642 | $43,458 | $74,400 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $81.95 | $978 | $5,692 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$6.91 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.95 | ≈$11.28 | $4.15 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.46 | ≈$17.40 | $13.60 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.47 | ≈$53.31 | $66.60 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$77.40 | ≈$924 | $1,740 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$60.91 | ≈$727 | $1,560 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$57.28 | ≈$683 | $2,721 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$195 | ≈$2,329 | $4,380 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.61 | ≈$7.29 | $11.55 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.24 | ≈$2.87 | $8.65 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$9.75 | ≈$116 | $164 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$1.75 | ≈$20.87 | $39.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$155 | ≈$1,847 | $11,800 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$194 | ≈$2,309 | $435 |
| 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).