In 1962, the average U.S. salary was $4,291 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.31 and median rent was about $76.30 a month. A dollar from 1962 buys what $11.17 buys today.
| Item | 1962 | 1962 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $4,291 | $47,920 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $134 | $1,498 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$6.45 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.03 | ≈$11.48 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.61 | ≈$17.96 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.65 | ≈$51.93 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$99.27 | ≈$1,109 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$76.30 | ≈$852 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$80.56 | ≈$900 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$262 | ≈$2,930 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.81 | ≈$9.06 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.28 | ≈$3.13 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$13.29 | ≈$148 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$2.11 | ≈$23.62 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$205 | ≈$2,292 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$350 | ≈$3,911 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,214 | ≈$13,556 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$211 | ≈$2,356 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.04 | $0.45 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1962. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).