In 1968, the average U.S. salary was $5,572 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.34 and median rent was about $98.13 a month. A dollar from 1968 buys what $9.69 buys today.
| Item | 1968 | 1968 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $5,572 | $54,001 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $245 | $2,376 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.60 | ≈$5.83 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.12 | ≈$10.84 | $4.03 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$0.50 | ≈$4.86 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$1.95 | ≈$18.92 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$5.09 | ≈$49.30 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$135 | ≈$1,307 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$98.13 | ≈$951 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $129 | $1,245 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$372 | ≈$3,608 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$1.32 | ≈$12.78 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.35 | ≈$3.41 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$18.06 | ≈$175 | $163 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$2.56 | ≈$24.81 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$311 | ≈$3,015 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$557 | ≈$5,397 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,631 | ≈$15,808 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$214 | ≈$2,074 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.06 | $0.58 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1968. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).