In 1997, the average U.S. salary was $27,426 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.23 and median rent was about $551 a month. A dollar from 1997 buys what $2.10 buys today.
| Item | 1997 | 1997 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $27,426 | $57,631 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $2,098 | $4,409 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.94 | ≈$1.97 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$2.59 | ≈$5.44 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | ≈$30.70 | ≈$64.52 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$2.39 | ≈$5.03 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$7.25 | ≈$15.24 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $18.45 | $38.77 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$677 | ≈$1,422 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$551 | ≈$1,159 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | ≈$826 | ≈$1,736 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$1,631 | ≈$3,428 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$4.74 | ≈$9.96 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$2.32 | ≈$4.87 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$75.65 | ≈$159 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$25.27 | ≈$53.09 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$12.41 | ≈$26.07 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | ≈$450 | ≈$946 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$3,061 | ≈$6,433 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$5,619 | ≈$11,807 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$18,523 | ≈$38,923 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$448 | ≈$941 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.32 | $0.67 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1997. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).