In 1959, the average U.S. salary was $3,856 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.31 and median rent was about $67.47 a month. A dollar from 1959 buys what $11.48 buys today.
| Item | 1959 | 1959 in today’s dollars | Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $3,856 | $44,278 | $74,400 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $96.40 | $1,107 | $5,692 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.57 | ≈$6.58 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$0.98 | ≈$11.27 | $4.15 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.52 | ≈$17.44 | $13.60 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.59 | ≈$52.69 | $66.60 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$85.59 | ≈$983 | $1,740 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$67.47 | ≈$775 | $1,560 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$66.43 | ≈$763 | $2,721 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$224 | ≈$2,572 | $4,380 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.66 | ≈$7.61 | $11.55 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.25 | ≈$2.91 | $8.65 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$11.20 | ≈$129 | $164 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$1.91 | ≈$21.96 | $39.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$171 | ≈$1,966 | $11,800 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$204 | ≈$2,347 | $435 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.04 | $0.46 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1959. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).