Prices are now 10.4x higher than in 1966
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1966 costs about $1,039.94 today. The inflation rate in 1966 was 2.9%, and total inflation from 1966 to September 2026 was 940%.
The federal minimum wage was $1.25 an hour at the end of 1966, or about $13.00 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1966 at 93.32. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1966 would have grown to about $43,263.50 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1966 (391% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (73% less).
| All prices, on average | $1,039.94 |
| Food | $1,031.07 |
| Groceries | $909.13 |
| Restaurant meals | $1,328.94 |
| Eggs | $444.30 |
| Milk | $604.31 |
| Bread | $1,150.19 |
| Meat | $978.45 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,337.62 |
Cost of living in 1966 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1966, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1966 costs in September 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 940%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1966 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1966 today$1,031.07 | Compared with inflation1% less than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1966 today$909.13 | Compared with inflation13% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1966 today$1,328.94 | Compared with inflation28% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1966 today$444.30 | Compared with inflation57% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1966 today$604.31 | Compared with inflation42% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1966 today$1,150.19 | Compared with inflation11% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1966 today$978.45 | Compared with inflation6% less than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1966 today$1,337.62 | Compared with inflation29% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1966 today$1,254.52 | Compared with inflation21% more than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1966 today$662.31 | Compared with inflation36% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1966 today$5,105.62 | Compared with inflation391% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1966 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1966 today$1,074.50 | Compared with inflation3% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1966 today$1,030.07 | Compared with inflation1% less than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1966 today$1,481.85 | Compared with inflation42% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1966 today$3,375.51 | Compared with inflation225% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1966 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1966 today$1,331.93 | Compared with inflation28% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1966 today$359.13 | Compared with inflation65% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1966 today$621.86 | Compared with inflation40% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1966 today$1,113.52 | Compared with inflation7% more than inflation |
| Airfare | $100 in 1966 today$1,277.41 | Compared with inflation23% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1966 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1966 today$278.34 | Compared with inflation73% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1966 today$327.70 | Compared with inflation68% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1966 today$2,253.12 | Compared with inflation117% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1966 today$1,662.54 | Compared with inflation60% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1966 today$1,168.87 | Compared with inflation12% more than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1966 today$808.76 | Compared with inflation22% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1966 today$1,488.55 | Compared with inflation43% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1966 worth today?
$1 in 1966 has about the same buying power as $10.40 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1966?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1966 was 2.9%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1965 to 1966.
What was the minimum wage in 1966?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1966 was $1.25 an hour, or about $13.00 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1966?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1966, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1966 costs about $5,105.62 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $278.34.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1966 annual average to September 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1966 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
- 1921
- 1922
- 1923
- 1924
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- 1926
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- 1960
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- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
- 1967
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- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
| All prices, on average | $1,039.94 |
| Food | $1,031.07 |
| Groceries | $909.13 |
| Restaurant meals | $1,328.94 |
| Eggs | $444.30 |
| Milk | $604.31 |
| Bread | $1,150.19 |
| Meat | $978.45 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,337.62 |