In 1971, the average U.S. salary was $6,497 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $0.36 and median rent was about $118 a month. A dollar from 1971 buys what $8.28 buys today.
| Item | 1971 | 1971 in today’s dollars | Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $6,497 | $53,789 | $74,400 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $338 | $2,797 | $5,692 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.63 | ≈$5.21 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.19 | ≈$9.84 | $4.15 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$0.57 | ≈$4.71 | $6.05 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$2.32 | ≈$19.20 | $13.60 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$5.40 | ≈$44.71 | $66.60 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$159 | ≈$1,315 | $1,740 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$118 | ≈$973 | $1,560 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$167 | ≈$1,383 | $2,721 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$461 | ≈$3,818 | $4,380 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$1.64 | ≈$13.56 | $11.55 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.40 | ≈$3.29 | $8.65 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$21.69 | ≈$180 | $164 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$5.27 | ≈$43.63 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$2.85 | ≈$23.61 | $39.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$384 | ≈$3,183 | $11,800 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$707 | ≈$5,851 | $15,700 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$1,950 | ≈$16,141 | $34,700 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$227 | ≈$1,877 | $435 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.08 | $0.66 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1971. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).