In 1964, the average U.S. salary was $4,576 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.31 and median rent was about $81.99 a month. A dollar from 1964 buys what $10.88 buys today.
| Item | 1964 | 1964 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $4,576 | $49,784 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $166 | $1,805 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.59 | ≈$6.37 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.06 | ≈$11.50 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.67 | ≈$18.16 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.65 | ≈$50.59 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$109 | ≈$1,191 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$81.99 | ≈$892 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$90.55 | ≈$985 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$287 | ≈$3,121 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$0.95 | ≈$10.38 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.30 | ≈$3.29 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$14.72 | ≈$160 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$2.24 | ≈$24.33 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$234 | ≈$2,547 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$409 | ≈$4,447 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,340 | ≈$14,573 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$212 | ≈$2,306 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.05 | $0.54 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1964. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).