In 1989, the average U.S. salary was $20,100 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.00 and median rent was about $426 a month. A dollar from 1989 buys what $2.72 buys today.
| Item | 1989 | 1989 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $20,100 | $54,669 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $1,510 | $4,106 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.98 | ≈$2.67 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$2.09 | ≈$5.68 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | ≈$28.82 | ≈$78.39 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$2.03 | ≈$5.53 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$6.19 | ≈$16.83 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $15.00 | $40.80 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$517 | ≈$1,406 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$426 | ≈$1,158 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$756 | ≈$2,055 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$1,183 | ≈$3,218 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$4.04 | ≈$11.00 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$1.57 | ≈$4.28 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$58.30 | ≈$159 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$15.05 | ≈$40.93 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$7.94 | ≈$21.61 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | ≈$330 | ≈$897 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$1,761 | ≈$4,790 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$3,626 | ≈$9,863 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$13,093 | ≈$35,611 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$444 | ≈$1,207 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.25 | $0.68 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1989. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).