Prices are now 7.5x higher than in 1973
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1973 costs about $754.46 today. The inflation rate in 1973 was 6.2%, and total inflation from 1973 to August 2026 was 654%.
The federal minimum wage was $1.60 an hour at the end of 1973, or about $12.07 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1973 at 118.40. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1973 would have grown to about $26,915.20 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1973 (374% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (72% less).
| All prices, on average | $754.46 |
| Food | $722.98 |
| Groceries | $644.74 |
| Restaurant meals | $892.15 |
| Eggs | $331.32 |
| Milk | $455.99 |
| Bread | $891.30 |
| Meat | $623.72 |
| Fresh fruit | $948.57 |
Cost of living in 1973 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1973, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1973 costs in August 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 654%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1973 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1973 today$722.98 | Compared with inflation4% less than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1973 today$644.74 | Compared with inflation15% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1973 today$892.15 | Compared with inflation18% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1973 today$331.32 | Compared with inflation56% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1973 today$455.99 | Compared with inflation40% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1973 today$891.30 | Compared with inflation18% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1973 today$623.72 | Compared with inflation17% less than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1973 today$948.57 | Compared with inflation26% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1973 today$948.05 | Compared with inflation26% more than inflation |
| Coffee | $100 in 1973 today$833.36 | Compared with inflation10% more than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1973 today$528.72 | Compared with inflation30% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1973 today$3,575.85 | Compared with inflation374% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1973 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1973 today$847.70 | Compared with inflation12% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1973 today$816.38 | Compared with inflation8% more than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1973 today$1,162.47 | Compared with inflation54% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1973 today$2,360.08 | Compared with inflation213% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1973 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1973 today$1,073.15 | Compared with inflation42% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1973 today$319.87 | Compared with inflation58% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1973 today$511.67 | Compared with inflation32% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1973 today$729.36 | Compared with inflation3% less than inflation |
| Airfare | $100 in 1973 today$941.16 | Compared with inflation25% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1973 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1973 today$210.36 | Compared with inflation72% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1973 today$239.11 | Compared with inflation68% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1973 today$1,528.54 | Compared with inflation103% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1973 today$1,115.05 | Compared with inflation48% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1973 today$1,187.36 | Compared with inflation57% more than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1973 today$626.81 | Compared with inflation17% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1973 today$983.15 | Compared with inflation30% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1973 worth today?
$1 in 1973 has about the same buying power as $7.54 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1973?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1973 was 6.2%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1972 to 1973.
What was the minimum wage in 1973?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1973 was $1.60 an hour, or about $12.07 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1973?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1973, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1973 costs about $3575.85 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $210.36.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1973 annual average to August 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1973 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 | $754.46 |
| Food | $722.98 |
| Groceries | $644.74 |
| Restaurant meals | $892.15 |
| Eggs | $331.32 |
| Milk | $455.99 |
| Bread | $891.30 |
| Meat | $623.72 |
| Fresh fruit | $948.57 |