In 1994, the average U.S. salary was $23,754 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.11 and median rent was about $505 a month. A dollar from 1994 buys what $2.28 buys today.
| Item | 1994 | 1994 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $23,754 | $54,057 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $1,817 | $4,135 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.96 | ≈$2.19 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$2.39 | ≈$5.44 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | ≈$29.48 | ≈$67.09 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$2.30 | ≈$5.22 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$6.80 | ≈$15.47 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $16.65 | $37.89 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$643 | ≈$1,463 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$505 | ≈$1,148 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $773 | $1,759 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$1,446 | ≈$3,291 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$4.33 | ≈$9.84 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$1.91 | ≈$4.34 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$67.87 | ≈$154 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$21.10 | ≈$48.03 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $10.45 | $23.78 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | ≈$405 | ≈$922 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$2,591 | ≈$5,897 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$4,857 | ≈$11,054 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$17,046 | ≈$38,792 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$442 | ≈$1,006 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.29 | $0.66 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1994. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).