In 1978, the average U.S. salary was $10,556 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.63 and median rent was about $208 a month. A dollar from 1978 buys what $5.17 buys today.
| Item | 1978 | 1978 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $10,556 | $54,603 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $639 | $3,304 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.79 | ≈$4.08 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$1.50 | ≈$7.75 | $4.03 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$0.89 | ≈$4.61 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$3.98 | ≈$20.61 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $9.45 | $48.88 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$250 | ≈$1,293 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$208 | ≈$1,077 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $386 | $1,999 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$674 | ≈$3,485 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$2.41 | ≈$12.46 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$0.55 | ≈$2.83 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$38.26 | ≈$198 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$7.19 | ≈$37.19 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$3.97 | ≈$20.56 | $42.50 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$663 | ≈$3,429 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$1,269 | ≈$6,564 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$3,410 | ≈$17,637 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$347 | ≈$1,794 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.15 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1978. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).