In 2025, the average U.S. salary was $72,300 a year, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.15 and median rent was $1,530 a month. A dollar from 2025 buys what $1.04 buys today.
| Item | 2025 | 2025 in today’s dollars | Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalaryAverage yearly wage | $72,300 | $75,529 | $74,499 |
| Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage | $5,531 | $5,778 | $5,699 |
| A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store | $4.30 | $4.49 | $3.80 |
| A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store | $4.10 | $4.28 | $4.03 |
| Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie | $55.18 | $57.64 | $55.94 |
| Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968 | $5.93 | $6.19 | $6.06 |
| Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese | $13.10 | $13.68 | $13.67 |
| Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded | $47.31 | $49.43 | $66.06 |
| Car insuranceAverage yearly premium | $1,690 | $1,765 | $1,736 |
| Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities | $1,530 | $1,598 | $1,565 |
| Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance | $2,613 | $2,730 | $2,787 |
| Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home | $4,270 | $4,461 | $4,406 |
| A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes | $11.31 | $11.82 | $11.60 |
| A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes | $8.50 | $8.88 | $8.72 |
| A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate | $161 | $168 | $163 |
| Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package | $105 | $110 | $108 |
| MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat | $38.20 | $39.91 | $42.50 |
| Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly | $1,340 | $1,400 | $1,382 |
| A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public | $11,550 | $12,066 | $11,993 |
| Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share | $2,180 | $2,277 | $2,235 |
| Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges | $15,400 | $16,088 | $15,800 |
| A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring | $34,200 | $35,727 | $34,802 |
| Cross-country flightRound trip coach, New York to Los Angeles | $430 | $449 | $444 |
| A first-class stampOne ounce, the price posted by the USPS | $0.78 | $0.81 | $0.78 |
U.S. prices at midyear 2025. ≈ marks estimates between data points; each item’s page lists its sources. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).