US price history: 100 everyday things, then and now
What things cost in America from 1969 to today, from a dozen eggs to a year of college. Every number comes from a named source, such as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau or the College Board.
Pick an item to see its price in every year we have, what that is in today's money, a chart, and where the figures come from. These are the same prices you guess in the game.
Jump to: Meat, poultry and eggs · Dairy, fruit and vegetables · Bakery, pantry and drinks · Gas, fuel and electricity · Housing, cars, travel and postage · Pay, income and benefits · Health insurance and Medicare · College · Metals and farm prices · Holidays and fun
Meat, poultry and eggs
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen) | $0.84 (1980) | $4.25 (2025) |
| Whole chicken | $0.71 (1980) | $2.06 (2025) |
| Chicken legs | $1.07 (1980) | $1.79 (2025) |
| Bacon | $1.47 (1980) | $7.02 (2025) |
| Sirloin steak | $4.13 (1990) | $12.97 (2025) |
| Ground beef | $1.24 (1985) | $6.09 (2025) |
| Lean ground beef | $2.10 (1995) | $7.76 (2025) |
| Ground chuck | $1.83 (1980) | $6.14 (2025) |
| Chuck roast | $2.49 (1990) | $8.43 (2025) |
| Round roast | $2.61 (1980) | $7.96 (2025) |
| Round steak | $2.77 (1980) | $8.86 (2025) |
| Beef for stew | $2.50 (1995) | $8.14 (2025) |
| Pork chops (bone-in) | $1.95 (1980) | $4.56 (2025) |
| Boneless pork chops | $3.89 (2000) | $4.63 (2025) |
| Boneless ham | $2.54 (1995) | $5.48 (2025) |
Dairy, fruit and vegetables
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Whole milk (gallon) | $2.78 (2000) | $4.07 (2025) |
| American cheese | $2.53 (1985) | $4.95 (2025) |
| Cheddar cheese | $3.09 (1985) | $5.84 (2025) |
| Ice cream (half gallon) | $1.82 (1980) | $6.37 (2025) |
| Bananas | $0.34 (1980) | $0.65 (2025) |
| Potatoes | $0.37 (1990) | $0.96 (2025) |
| Tomatoes | $0.67 (1980) | $1.84 (2025) |
| Iceberg lettuce | $0.45 (1980) | $1.59 (2025) |
| Grapefruit | $0.35 (1980) | $1.67 (2025) |
| Lemons | $0.70 (1980) | $2.00 (2025) |
| Frozen orange juice | $1.18 (1980) | $4.59 (2025) |
Bakery, pantry and drinks
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| White bread | $0.51 (1980) | $1.87 (2025) |
| Whole wheat bread | $0.73 (1980) | $2.70 (2025) |
| Flour | $0.21 (1980) | $0.56 (2025) |
| Sugar | $0.43 (1980) | $1.02 (2025) |
| Rice | $0.51 (1980) | $1.05 (2025) |
| Spaghetti and macaroni | $0.74 (1985) | $1.32 (2025) |
| Dried beans | $0.69 (2000) | $1.64 (2025) |
| Ground coffee | $3.14 (1980) | $8.18 (2025) |
| Chocolate chip cookies | $1.58 (1980) | $5.05 (2025) |
| Potato chips | $2.04 (1980) | $6.71 (2025) |
| Beer | $0.92 (2000) | $1.83 (2025) |
| Table wine | $5.41 (2000) | $13.97 (2025) |
Gas, fuel and electricity
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $1.25 (1980) | $3.26 (2025) |
| Mid-grade gas | $1.24 (1995) | $3.71 (2025) |
| Premium gas | $1.34 (1985) | $4.13 (2025) |
| Diesel | $1.58 (2000) | $3.68 (2025) |
| Federal gas tax | $0.40 (1970) | $1.84 (2025) |
| Crude oil (barrel) | $3.18 (1970) | $63.41 (2025) |
| Heating oil | $1.01 (1980) | $3.62 (2025) |
| Natural gas for homes | $0.41 (1980) | $1.62 (2025) |
| Electricity | $60.00 (1980) | $185 (2025) |
Housing, cars, travel and postage
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| New house | $39,300 (1975) | $417,400 (2025) |
| Manufactured home | $65,358 (2014) | $127,367 (2025) |
| Rent | $108 (1970) | $1,487 (2024) |
| New car | $27,550 (2003) | $48,205 (2025) |
| Owning a car | $8,849 (2018) | $11,577 (2025) |
| Plane ticket | $292 (1995) | $387 (2025) |
| Postage stamp | $0.06 (1969) | $0.82 (2026) |
| Postcard postage | $0.05 (1970) | $0.65 (2026) |
Pay, income and benefits
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $1.60 (1969) | $7.25 (2025) |
| Average hourly pay | $6.85 (1980) | $31.34 (2025) |
| Typical weekly pay | $262 (1980) | $1,204 (2025) |
| Household income | $22,420 (1984) | $87,460 (2025) |
| Income per person | $4,218 (1970) | $76,994 (2025) |
| Teacher salary | $8,626 (1970) | $74,495 (2025) |
| Senator salary | $42,500 (1970) | $174,000 (2025) |
| President's salary | $200,000 (1970) | $400,000 (2025) |
| Social Security check | $118.10 (1970) | $2,071 (2025) |
Health insurance and Medicare
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Family health insurance | $6,438 (2000) | $26,993 (2025) |
| Single health insurance | $5,049 (2010) | $9,325 (2025) |
| Worker's share of family coverage | $3,997 (2010) | $6,850 (2025) |
| Health plan deductible | $917 (2010) | $1,886 (2025) |
| Medicare Part B premium | $15.50 (1985) | $185 (2025) |
| Medicare Part B deductible | $50.00 (1970) | $257 (2025) |
| Medicare hospital deductible | $52.00 (1970) | $1,676 (2025) |
College
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Public college tuition | $433 (1975) | $11,950 (2025) |
| Private college tuition | $2,272 (1975) | $45,000 (2025) |
| Community college tuition | $245 (1975) | $4,150 (2025) |
| Public college, full year | $1,666 (1975) | $25,850 (2025) |
| Private college, full year | $3,663 (1975) | $60,920 (2025) |
Metals and farm prices
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $384.93 (1990) | $2,388 (2024) |
| Silver | $4.82 (1990) | $28.37 (2024) |
| Platinum | $425.36 (1995) | $960.70 (2024) |
| Palladium | $153.35 (1995) | $994.90 (2024) |
| Copper | $1.23 (1990) | $4.32 (2024) |
| Corn (farm price) | $3.11 (1980) | $4.24 (2024) |
| Wheat (farm price) | $3.91 (1980) | $5.52 (2024) |
| Soybeans (farm price) | $7.57 (1980) | $10.00 (2024) |
| Rice (farm price) | $12.80 (1980) | $15.10 (2024) |
| Potatoes (farm price) | $3.92 (1985) | $11.70 (2024) |
| Hay (farm price) | $67.60 (1985) | $166 (2024) |
| Cotton (farm price) | $0.56 (1985) | $0.66 (2024) |
| Peanuts (farm price) | $0.24 (1985) | $0.26 (2024) |
Holidays and fun
| Item | Then | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving dinner | $28.74 (1986) | $55.18 (2025) |
| Thanksgiving turkey | $21.71 (2018) | $21.50 (2025) |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas | $17,849 (1995) | $51,476 (2025) |
| A partridge in a pear tree | $214.99 (2015) | $420.18 (2025) |
| Two turtle doves | $290 (2015) | $750 (2025) |
| Five gold rings | $750 (2015) | $1,650 (2025) |
| Valentine's Day spending | $119.67 (2007) | $188.81 (2025) |
| Mother's Day spending | $152.52 (2012) | $259.04 (2025) |
| Father's Day spending | $117.14 (2012) | $199.38 (2025) |
| The tooth fairy | $4.36 (2015) | $5.01 (2025) |
| Broadway ticket | $92.37 (2011) | $129.12 (2024) |