In 1966, the average U.S. salary was $4,938 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.32 and median rent was about $89.17 a month. A dollar from 1966 buys what $10.38 buys today.
| Item | 1966 | 1966 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $4,938 | $51,243 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $207 | $2,152 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.59 | ≈$6.16 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.09 | ≈$11.29 | $4.03 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.78 | ≈$18.47 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$4.79 | ≈$49.72 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$121 | ≈$1,259 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$89.17 | ≈$925 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$106 | ≈$1,097 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$322 | ≈$3,346 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$1.12 | ≈$11.64 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.33 | ≈$3.39 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$16.30 | ≈$169 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$2.38 | ≈$24.74 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$269 | ≈$2,791 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$477 | ≈$4,951 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,478 | ≈$15,339 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$213 | ≈$2,210 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.05 | $0.52 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1966. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).