Prices are now 9.2x higher than in 1969
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1969 costs about $918.09 today. The inflation rate in 1969 was 5.5%, and total inflation from 1969 to September 2026 was 818%.
The federal minimum wage was $1.60 an hour at the end of 1969, or about $14.69 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1969 at 102.00. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1969 would have grown to about $35,991.60 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1969 (382% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (74% less).
| All prices, on average | $918.09 |
| Food | $939.37 |
| Groceries | $842.58 |
| Restaurant meals | $1,131.74 |
| Eggs | $418.95 |
| Milk | $542.63 |
| Bread | $1,091.82 |
| Meat | $901.08 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,206.58 |
Cost of living in 1969 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1969, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1969 costs in September 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 818%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1969 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1969 today$939.37 | Compared with inflation2% more than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1969 today$842.58 | Compared with inflation8% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1969 today$1,131.74 | Compared with inflation23% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1969 today$418.95 | Compared with inflation54% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1969 today$542.63 | Compared with inflation41% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1969 today$1,091.82 | Compared with inflation19% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1969 today$901.08 | Compared with inflation2% less than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1969 today$1,206.58 | Compared with inflation31% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1969 today$1,115.45 | Compared with inflation21% more than inflation |
| Coffee | $100 in 1969 today$1,109.16 | Compared with inflation21% more than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1969 today$604.57 | Compared with inflation34% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1969 today$4,422.59 | Compared with inflation382% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1969 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1969 today$998.50 | Compared with inflation9% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1969 today$993.78 | Compared with inflation8% more than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1969 today$1,443.28 | Compared with inflation57% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1969 today$3,102.01 | Compared with inflation238% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1969 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1969 today$1,228.89 | Compared with inflation34% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1969 today$340.58 | Compared with inflation63% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1969 today$584.76 | Compared with inflation36% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1969 today$940.34 | Compared with inflation2% more than inflation |
| Airfare | $100 in 1969 today$1,162.43 | Compared with inflation27% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1969 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1969 today$240.05 | Compared with inflation74% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1969 today$279.30 | Compared with inflation70% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1969 today$1,856.13 | Compared with inflation102% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1969 today$1,365.72 | Compared with inflation49% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1969 today$1,195.84 | Compared with inflation30% more than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1969 today$719.29 | Compared with inflation22% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1969 today$1,234.38 | Compared with inflation34% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1969 worth today?
$1 in 1969 has about the same buying power as $9.18 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1969?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1969 was 5.5%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1968 to 1969.
What was the minimum wage in 1969?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1969 was $1.60 an hour, or about $14.69 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1969?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1969, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1969 costs about $4,422.59 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $240.05.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1969 annual average to September 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1969 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
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- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
| All prices, on average | $918.09 |
| Food | $939.37 |
| Groceries | $842.58 |
| Restaurant meals | $1,131.74 |
| Eggs | $418.95 |
| Milk | $542.63 |
| Bread | $1,091.82 |
| Meat | $901.08 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,206.58 |