In 1965, the average U.S. salary was $4,659 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.31 and median rent was $85.00 a month. A dollar from 1965 buys what $10.71 buys today.
| Item | 1965 | 1965 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $4,659 | $49,883 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $169 | $1,808 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.59 | ≈$6.31 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.07 | ≈$11.48 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $1.70 | $18.20 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $4.65 | $49.79 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $115 | $1,231 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $85.00 | $910 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $96.01 | $1,028 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $300 | $3,212 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$1.03 | ≈$11.07 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.31 | ≈$3.37 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$15.49 | ≈$166 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $2.30 | $24.63 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $250 | $2,677 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$442 | ≈$4,728 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,407 | ≈$15,066 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$212 | ≈$2,275 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.05 | $0.54 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1965. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).