In 2020, the average U.S. salary was $55,629 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost about $1.97 and median rent was $1,150 a month. A dollar from 2020 buys what $1.30 buys today.
| Item | 2020 | 2020 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $55,629 | $72,563 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $4,256 | $5,551 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | $1.48 | $1.93 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | $3.30 | $4.30 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | $46.90 | $61.18 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | $5.71 | $7.45 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $10.54 | $13.75 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | ≈$29.56 | ≈$38.55 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $1,070 | $1,396 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $1,150 | $1,500 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $1,365 | $1,780 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $3,719 | $4,851 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | $9.37 | $12.22 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | $7.50 | $9.78 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | $103 | $134 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | $86.00 | $112 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | ≈$33.49 | ≈$43.68 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | $1,090 | $1,422 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $10,600 | $13,827 | $11,993 |
| Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share | $1,760 | $2,296 | $2,235 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | $13,500 | $17,609 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | $19,000 | $24,784 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | $320 | $417 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.55 | $0.72 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 2020. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).