Prices in 1983 vs. Today: Food, Gas & More

Prices are now 3.4x higher than in 1983

In 1983, a dozen eggs cost $0.89, a gallon of gas cost $1.24 and a pound of white bread cost $0.54.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1983 costs about $336.33 today. The inflation rate in 1983 was 3.2%, and total inflation from 1983 to August 2026 was 236%.

The effects of inflation can vary. Adjusted for inflation, the biggest increase since 1983 was for heating oil (up 39%), and the biggest drop was for chicken legs (down 52%).

What things cost in 1983
Dozen eggs	$0.89 → $2.27
Gallon of gas	$1.24 → $4.20
Pound of bread	$0.54 → $1.82
Pound of coffee	$2.47 → $9.30
All prices, on average	$100.00 → $336.33

Biggest price changes since 1983

The lists below break down price changes by item.

Each list shows average prices in 1983 compared to the price today. These are the actual prices people paid on average. For comparison, prices overall rose 236% between 1983 and August 2026.These prices are inflation-adjusted, meaning all values shown are adjusted for the baseline of 236% inflation between 1983 and August 2026.

More inflation

Heating oil367% higher39% higher
Was $1.10 in 1983, now $5.15 per gallonWas $3.70 in today's dollars, now $5.15 per gallon
Navel oranges341% higher31% higher
Was $0.39 in 1983, now $1.71 per lbWas $1.30 in today's dollars, now $1.71 per lb
Grapefruit339% higher31% higher
Was $0.37 in 1983, now $1.60 per lbWas $1.23 in today's dollars, now $1.60 per lb
Ground chuck291% higher16% higher
Was $1.73 in 1983, now $6.77 per lbWas $5.82 in today's dollars, now $6.77 per lb
Ground coffee277% higher12% higher
Was $2.47 in 1983, now $9.30 per lbWas $8.29 in today's dollars, now $9.30 per lb

Less inflation

Chicken legs60% higher52% lower
Was $1.04 in 1983, now $1.67 per lbWas $3.51 in today's dollars, now $1.67 per lb
Bananas69% higher50% lower
Was $0.39 in 1983, now $0.65 per lbWas $1.30 in today's dollars, now $0.65 per lb
Rice135% higher30% lower
Was $0.47 in 1983, now $1.11 per lbWas $1.59 in today's dollars, now $1.11 per lb
Electricity150% higher26% lower
Was $0.08 in 1983, now $0.20 per kWhWas $0.26 in today's dollars, now $0.20 per kWh
Flour152% higher25% lower
Was $0.22 in 1983, now $0.55 per lbWas $0.73 in today's dollars, now $0.55 per lb

Food and energy prices in 1983

These are the average prices Americans paid in 1983, next to what the same items cost in August 2026.These 1983 prices are converted to today's dollars. This means that the changes are relative to inflation.

Gas & energy

Item	19831983 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Gasoline, regularper gallon	1983$1.241983, adjusted$4.17	Today$4.20	Change238% higherAfter inflation1% higher
Gasoline, premiumper gallon	1983$1.381983, adjusted$4.65	Today$5.13	Change271% higherAfter inflation10% higher
Electricityper kWh	1983$0.081983, adjusted$0.26	Today$0.20	Change150% higherAfter inflation26% lower
Natural gas (piped)per therm	1983$0.651983, adjusted$2.18	Today$1.71	Change165% higherAfter inflation21% lower
Heating oilper gallon	1983$1.101983, adjusted$3.70	Today$5.15	Change367% higherAfter inflation39% higher

Meat & poultry

Item	19831983 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Ground chuck per lb	1983$1.731983, adjusted$5.82	Today$6.77	Change291% higherAfter inflation16% higher
Round steak per lb	1983$2.901983, adjusted$9.75	Today$9.69	Change234% higherAfter inflation1% lower
Round roast per lb	1983$2.551983, adjusted$8.59	Today$8.96	Change251% higherAfter inflation4% higher
Baconper lb	1983$1.941983, adjusted$6.53	Today$6.61	Change240% higherAfter inflation1% higher
Whole chickenper lb	1983$0.721983, adjusted$2.44	Today$2.01	Change178% higherAfter inflation17% lower
Chicken legs per lb	1983$1.041983, adjusted$3.51	Today$1.67	Change60% higherAfter inflation52% lower

Dairy & eggs

Item	19831983 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Eggs, grade A largeper dozen	1983$0.891983, adjusted$3.01	Today$2.27	Change154% higherAfter inflation24% lower
Ice cream per ½ gallon	1983$2.161983, adjusted$7.26	Today$5.85	Change171% higherAfter inflation19% lower

Fruits & vegetables

Item	19831983 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Bananasper lb	1983$0.391983, adjusted$1.30	Today$0.65	Change69% higherAfter inflation50% lower
Navel orangesper lb	1983$0.391983, adjusted$1.30	Today$1.71	Change341% higherAfter inflation31% higher
Grapefruit per lb	1983$0.371983, adjusted$1.23	Today$1.60	Change339% higherAfter inflation31% higher
Lemons per lb	1983$0.751983, adjusted$2.51	Today$2.11	Change183% higherAfter inflation16% lower
Strawberries per 12 oz	1983$0.761983, adjusted$2.57	Today$2.58	Change238% higherAfter inflationno change
Tomatoesper lb	1983$0.781983, adjusted$2.64	Today$1.98	Change152% higherAfter inflation25% lower
Iceberg lettuceper lb	1983$0.551983, adjusted$1.86	Today$1.47	Change166% higherAfter inflation21% lower

Pantry & bakery

Item	19831983 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
White breadper lb	1983$0.541983, adjusted$1.82	Today$1.82	Change237% higherAfter inflationno change
Flour per lb	1983$0.221983, adjusted$0.73	Today$0.55	Change152% higherAfter inflation25% lower
Riceper lb	1983$0.471983, adjusted$1.59	Today$1.11	Change135% higherAfter inflation30% lower
Sugar per lb	1983$0.361983, adjusted$1.22	Today$1.02	Change183% higherAfter inflation16% lower
Chocolate chip cookiesper lb	1983$1.821983, adjusted$6.11	Today$5.21	Change187% higherAfter inflation15% lower
Potato chipsper 16 oz	1983$2.501983, adjusted$8.42	Today$6.75	Change170% higherAfter inflation20% lower

Drinks

Item	19831983 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Ground coffeeper lb	1983$2.471983, adjusted$8.29	Today$9.30	Change277% higherAfter inflation12% higher

Frequently asked questions

How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1983?

A dozen eggs cost an average of $0.89 in 1983. In August 2026, the average price was $2.27. After adjusting for inflation, that's 24% lower than in 1983.

How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1983?

A gallon of gas cost an average of $1.24 in 1983. In August 2026, the average price was $4.20. After adjusting for inflation, that's 1% higher than in 1983.

How much did a pound of white bread cost in 1983?

A pound of white bread cost an average of $0.54 in 1983. In August 2026, the average price was $1.82. After adjusting for inflation, that's about the same as in 1983.

How much did a pound of coffee cost in 1983?

A pound of coffee cost an average of $2.47 in 1983. In August 2026, the average price was $9.30. After adjusting for inflation, that's 12% higher than in 1983.

How much is $1 from 1983 worth today?

$1 in 1983 has about the same buying power as $3.36 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.

What was the inflation rate in 1983?

The U.S. inflation rate in 1983 was 3.2%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1982 to 1983.

Where these prices come from

These prices come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which checks what everyday items cost in stores across the U.S. every month. The 1983 prices are averages for the whole year, and today's prices are from August 2026.

To adjust 1983 prices for inflation, we use the same consumer price index as our 1983 inflation calculator. The raw price data is available on the BLS website.

Prices in other years

About the author

Ian Webster is an engineer and data expert based in San Mateo, California. He has worked for Google, NASA, and consulted for governments around the world on data pipelines and data analysis. Disappointed by the lack of clear resources on the impacts of inflation on economic indicators, Ian believes this website serves as a valuable public tool. Ian earned his degree in Computer Science from Dartmouth College.

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What things cost in 1983
Dozen eggs	$0.89 → $2.27
Gallon of gas	$1.24 → $4.20
Pound of bread	$0.54 → $1.82
Pound of coffee	$2.47 → $9.30
All prices, on average	$100.00 → $336.33

Prices in 1983 vs. today