In 1963, the average U.S. salary was $4,397 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.31 and median rent was about $79.10 a month. A dollar from 1963 buys what $11.02 buys today.
| Item | 1963 | 1963 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $4,397 | $48,462 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $159 | $1,757 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.58 | ≈$6.41 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.04 | ≈$11.49 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.64 | ≈$18.06 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.65 | ≈$51.25 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$104 | ≈$1,149 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$79.10 | ≈$872 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$85.41 | ≈$941 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$274 | ≈$3,024 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.88 | ≈$9.69 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.29 | ≈$3.21 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$13.99 | ≈$154 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$2.17 | ≈$23.97 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$219 | ≈$2,416 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$378 | ≈$4,170 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,275 | ≈$14,054 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$211 | ≈$2,331 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.05 | $0.55 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1963. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).