In 1958, the average U.S. salary was $3,674 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.30 and median rent was about $64.11 a month. A dollar from 1958 buys what $11.67 buys today.
| Item | 1958 | 1958 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,674 | $42,875 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $82.66 | $965 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$6.72 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.96 | ≈$11.24 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.49 | ≈$17.37 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.53 | ≈$52.84 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$81.39 | ≈$950 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$64.11 | ≈$748 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$61.64 | ≈$719 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$209 | ≈$2,440 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.64 | ≈$7.43 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.25 | ≈$2.88 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$10.45 | ≈$122 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$1.83 | ≈$21.35 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$163 | ≈$1,900 | $11,993 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$199 | ≈$2,321 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.04 | $0.47 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1958. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).