In 1998, the average U.S. salary was $28,861 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.06 and median rent was about $568 a month. A dollar from 1998 buys what $2.07 buys today.
| Item | 1998 | 1998 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $28,861 | $59,716 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $2,208 | $4,568 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$0.93 | ≈$1.92 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$2.66 | ≈$5.50 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | ≈$31.25 | ≈$64.66 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$2.43 | ≈$5.03 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$7.44 | ≈$15.39 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $15.90 | $32.90 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$681 | ≈$1,409 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$568 | ≈$1,175 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $824 | $1,704 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | ≈$1,701 | ≈$3,520 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$4.95 | ≈$10.24 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$2.53 | ≈$5.22 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$78.65 | ≈$163 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$26.86 | ≈$55.58 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $13.60 | $28.14 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | ≈$466 | ≈$965 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$3,201 | ≈$6,623 | $11,993 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$5,899 | ≈$12,205 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$19,003 | ≈$39,319 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$452 | ≈$935 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.32 | $0.66 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 1998. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).