In 2018, the average U.S. salary was $52,146 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.72 and median rent was about $1,054 a month. A dollar from 2018 buys what $1.34 buys today.
| Item | 2018 | 2018 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $52,146 | $70,039 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $3,989 | $5,358 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | ≈$1.55 | ≈$2.08 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | ≈$3.17 | ≈$4.26 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | ≈$49.21 | ≈$66.09 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | ≈$5.52 | ≈$7.41 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | ≈$10.32 | ≈$13.87 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $40.80 | $54.80 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | ≈$1,022 | ≈$1,372 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | ≈$1,054 | ≈$1,415 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $1,360 | $1,826 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $3,498 | $4,698 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | ≈$8.97 | ≈$12.05 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | ≈$6.99 | ≈$9.39 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | ≈$128 | ≈$172 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | $78.00 | $105 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $32.44 | $43.57 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | ≈$1,024 | ≈$1,375 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | ≈$9,913 | ≈$13,315 | $11,993 |
| Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share | ≈$1,609 | ≈$2,161 | $2,235 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | ≈$12,608 | ≈$16,934 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | ≈$28,722 | ≈$38,577 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | ≈$391 | ≈$525 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.50 | $0.67 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 2018. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).