In 1974, the average U.S. salary was $8,031 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.53 and median rent was about $152 a month. A dollar from 1974 buys what $6.84 buys today.
| Item | 1974 | 1974 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $8,031 | $54,940 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $470 | $3,214 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.69 | ≈$4.74 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.31 | ≈$8.98 | $4.03 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$0.63 | ≈$4.30 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$2.95 | ≈$20.20 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $7.95 | $54.39 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$189 | ≈$1,292 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$152 | ≈$1,037 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $245 | $1,679 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$569 | ≈$3,891 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$1.93 | ≈$13.22 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.46 | ≈$3.12 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$27.66 | ≈$189 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$6.17 | ≈$42.19 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$3.18 | ≈$21.77 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$468 | ≈$3,203 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$908 | ≈$6,213 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$2,477 | ≈$16,948 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$266 | ≈$1,817 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.10 | $0.68 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1974. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).