In 2019, the average U.S. salary was $54,100 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.60 and median rent was $1,097 a month. A dollar from 2019 buys what $1.31 buys today.
| Item | 2019 | 2019 in today’s dollars | Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $54,100 | $70,941 | $74,400 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $4,139 | $5,427 | $5,692 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | $1.40 | $1.84 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | $3.10 | $4.07 | $4.15 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | $48.91 | $64.14 | $55.90 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | $5.74 | $7.53 | $6.05 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $10.30 | $13.51 | $13.60 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $39.00 | $51.14 | $66.60 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $1,070 | $1,403 | $1,740 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $1,097 | $1,438 | $1,560 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $1,350 | $1,770 | $2,721 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $3,561 | $4,670 | $4,380 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | $9.16 | $12.01 | $11.55 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | $7.20 | $9.44 | $8.65 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | $131 | $172 | $164 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | ≈$81.90 | ≈$107 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $32.99 | $43.26 | $39.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | $1,050 | $1,377 | $1,370 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $10,200 | $13,375 | $11,800 |
| Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share | $1,670 | $2,190 | $2,240 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | $13,000 | $17,047 | $15,700 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | $28,000 | $36,716 | $34,700 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | $385 | $505 | $435 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.55 | $0.72 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 2019. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).