In 2024, the average U.S. salary was $69,846 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.48 and median rent was $1,487 a month. A dollar from 2024 buys what $1.07 buys today.
| Item | 2024 | 2024 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $69,846 | $74,928 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $5,343 | $5,732 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | $3.20 | $3.43 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | $4.00 | $4.29 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | $58.08 | $62.31 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | $5.69 | $6.10 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $12.75 | $13.68 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $52.27 | $56.08 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $1,610 | $1,727 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $1,487 | $1,595 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $2,566 | $2,753 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $4,172 | $4,476 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | $11.31 | $12.13 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | $8.30 | $8.90 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | $158 | $169 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | $102 | $109 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $36.80 | $39.48 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | $1,300 | $1,395 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $11,300 | $12,122 | $11,993 |
| Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share | $2,100 | $2,253 | $2,235 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | $15,000 | $16,091 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | $33,000 | $35,401 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | $420 | $451 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.73 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 2024. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).