We’ve noticed how much prices for everyday goods have increased in recent years, but have we ever put everything into perspective by comparing today’s prices to those found in 1950?
I’ve curated a list of products, items, and services that were around in the ’50s and are still available in 2024. This list is an eye-opener exercise in how much society (and consumerism) has changed. Of course inflation has increased both our income and expenses, but it’s fun to take a look in the past a remember what used to be.
1. One Dozen Eggs
In the last few years, consumers have seen the price of a carton of eggs fluctuate from $2 to $6, with organic brands getting even more expensive. As it turns out, shoppers in 1950 had it easy because eggs were only $0.60 a dozen.
It must have been a joy to spend so little on a nutritious and versatile food item. As a fan of Eggs Benedict, my wallet and I would’ve been in heaven back then.
2. A New Car
I recently purchased a new car that retailed for nearly $50,000. Fortunately, thanks to some savvy negotiating, I managed to buy it at a discount. However, it’s still a shocking price for a vehicle, considering how cheap they were in 1950.
A 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air would set you back $1,741. Purchasing a vehicle at that price today would be akin to winning the lottery. Where’s that time machine?
3. Median Home Values
I can’t be the only person hesitant to take the plunge into homeownership because they feel priced out of the market. Owning a home is more challenging than ever in 2024, but that wasn’t the case in 1950.
That year, the median home value was $7,354, and I can’t think of a better case for inventing a time machine than that statistic. Homeownership feels out of reach for countless Americans, and there are no signs of reversal anytime soon.
4. A Pound of Ground Beef
At the grocery store where I usually shop, a pound of ground beef costs about $4.99. That’s a good deal by today’s standards, but it doesn’t compare to the price it cost nearly 75 years ago.
In 1950, a pound of quality ground beef cost a little more than two quarters — 51 cents, to be exact. That’s a lot of hamburgers for a relatively low price.
5. A Hospital Stay
If the average American has the misfortune of requiring a hospital stay, the financial cost may be too much to bear, even when factoring in mid-tier health insurance. It wasn’t always this way.
In 1950, the average hospital visit only set Americans back between $20 and $30. Back in the good old days, going to the hospital didn’t put your family into crippling debt. Talk about a beautiful life amenity.
6. A Quart of Milk
As a fan of chocolate milk, I often lament how expensive a quart of milk is in 2024. If I were alive in 1950, milk would only cost 14 cents.
It’s a beautiful thing to daydream about. Not only would my bones be nice and strong due to the excessive calcium I’d constantly receive, but I’d be the happiest kid on earth due to the sheer amount of chocolate running through my veins.
7. A Bottle of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola has been around for as long as current Americans can remember, and back in 1950, it was sold at a price that competitors couldn’t beat. A bottle of original Coke could be purchased for a nickel, ensuring Americans’ thirst could be quenched at a bargain-basement price.
Interestingly, taking a bottle of Coca-Cola to the nearest recycling center today would net you at least a nickel in recouped recycling costs. How times have changed.
8. Men’s Jeans
One thing is sure: if a pair of jeans could be bought today at 1950-era pricing, my wardrobe would look infinitely better. Jeans didn’t cost more than $5 in those days, meaning looking good and being comfortable going about your day was incredibly cost-efficient.
Today, there are far too many overpriced designer options on the market. I’ve bought many expensive jeans over the years, and I’m lucky if half of them fit correctly.
9. College Tuition
Millions of former students are drowning under the weight of crippling student loan debt. I know many people are still paying off loans that started at six figures.
In 1950, the average annual college tuition at a public university was between $200 and $500, a fire-sale price in today’s secondary education landscape. Imagine being saddled with “only” $500 in student debt.
10. A Gallon of Gasoline
The allure of the open road and driving with the windows down was arguably never more enticing than in 1950. From the iconic cars and trucks of that era to the price of fuel (as low as $0.25 per gallon), it was the perfect year to cruise around without a care in the world.
Of course, you can cruise around wherever you want in 2024, but you’ll have to first take out a small personal loan to cover the skyrocketing cost of filling up your car at the gas station.
11. A Night in a Hotel
Vacationers had the time of their lives in 1950 when the average overnight stay at hotels and motels was only $10. In 2024, the only hotels that offer rates that low are bottom-of-the-barrel locations in terrifying neighborhoods that nobody would dare sleep at.
I’m attending a few weddings this year and dread paying out of pocket for substandard accommodations near the venue.
12. A Ski Lift Ticket
I love skiing and snowboarding, but unfortunately, it’s one of the most physically demanding and costly hobbies a person can have. I can’t keep up with expensive lift tickets and equipment in 2024.
Skiiers in 1950 had it easy; lift tickets were only $2. The only way modern skiers would ever experience that price point is if the mountain suffered from a catastrophic computer error that mistakingly granted them 1950s-era pricing.
13. Prescription Medication
Anyone who’s gone to the local pharmacy to pick up essential prescription medication knows how badly the entire process can affect their wallet. Over the years, I’ve heard many horror stories about medication pricing.
If we could all collectively go back to 1950, when the average prescription cost between $1 and $5, I believe all men and women would be happier, healthier, and less broke.
14. A Television
A high-quality, black-and-white television cost $300 in 1950. That was an astronomical price then, and I was shocked to discover the details because a state-of-the-art modern flat-screen TV can be found for less than $300 today!
The television is arguably the only product on this list that has decreased in price over the past 70-plus years. (Hey, as if we needed any more reason to love TV, right?)
15. A Movie Ticket
Going to a movie theater nowadays costs far more than it should. Individual tickets to new releases can cost upwards of $20 in many cities. That isn’t how it was in 1950 when a moviegoer could catch the latest motion picture for $0.50 in admission.
I understand the high cost of going to the movies today is due to inflation and an increased “theater experience” (think ultra-comfortable recliners instead of rigid seats). Still, I’d trade all modern amenities for the change to see the latest blockbuster film for two quarters.
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