Prices are now 11.4x higher than in 1960
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1960 costs about $1,138.31 today. The inflation rate in 1960 was 1.7%, and total inflation from 1960 to September 2026 was 1,038%.
The federal minimum wage was $1.00 an hour at the end of 1960, or about $11.38 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1960 at 58.03. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1960 would have grown to about $83,871.21 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1960 (438% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (74% less).
| All prices, on average | $1,138.31 |
| Food | $1,161.31 |
| Groceries | $1,017.38 |
| Restaurant meals | $1,550.86 |
| Eggs | $468.98 |
| Milk | $637.84 |
| Bread | $1,326.79 |
| Meat | $1,151.90 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,528.07 |
Cost of living in 1960 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1960, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1960 costs in September 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 1,038%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1960 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1960 today$1,161.31 | Compared with inflation2% more than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1960 today$1,017.38 | Compared with inflation11% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1960 today$1,550.86 | Compared with inflation36% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1960 today$468.98 | Compared with inflation59% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1960 today$637.84 | Compared with inflation44% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1960 today$1,326.79 | Compared with inflation17% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1960 today$1,151.90 | Compared with inflation1% more than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1960 today$1,528.07 | Compared with inflation34% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1960 today$1,349.34 | Compared with inflation19% more than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1960 today$698.22 | Compared with inflation39% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1960 today$6,122.01 | Compared with inflation438% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1960 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1960 today$1,150.77 | Compared with inflation1% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1960 today$1,023.74 | Compared with inflation10% less than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1960 today$1,518.23 | Compared with inflation33% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1960 today$3,672.12 | Compared with inflation223% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1960 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1960 today$1,393.78 | Compared with inflation22% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1960 today$340.30 | Compared with inflation70% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1960 today$720.50 | Compared with inflation37% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1960 today$1,308.08 | Compared with inflation15% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1960 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1960 today$298.54 | Compared with inflation74% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1960 today$366.87 | Compared with inflation68% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1960 today$2,663.24 | Compared with inflation134% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1960 today$2,006.60 | Compared with inflation76% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1960 today$1,030.17 | Compared with inflation10% less than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1960 today$871.63 | Compared with inflation23% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1960 today$1,826.57 | Compared with inflation60% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1960 worth today?
$1 in 1960 has about the same buying power as $11.38 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1960?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1960 was 1.7%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1959 to 1960.
What was the minimum wage in 1960?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1960 was $1.00 an hour, or about $11.38 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1960?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1960, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1960 costs about $6,122.01 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $298.54.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1960 annual average to September 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1960 inflation calculator. The federal minimum wage is from the U.S. Department of Labor, via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. S&P 500 values are from Robert Shiller's historical stock market data.
Prices in other years
- 1914
- 1915
- 1916
- 1917
- 1918
- 1919
- 1920
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- 1960
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- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
| All prices, on average | $1,138.31 |
| Food | $1,161.31 |
| Groceries | $1,017.38 |
| Restaurant meals | $1,550.86 |
| Eggs | $468.98 |
| Milk | $637.84 |
| Bread | $1,326.79 |
| Meat | $1,151.90 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,528.07 |