Prices are now 5.5x higher than in 1977
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1977 costs about $552.77 today. The inflation rate in 1977 was 6.5%, and total inflation from 1977 to August 2026 was 453%.
The federal minimum wage was $2.30 an hour at the end of 1977, or about $12.71 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1977 at 103.80. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1977 would have grown to about $26,317.59 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1977 (429% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (69% less).
| All prices, on average | $552.77 |
| Food | $531.61 |
| Groceries | $479.37 |
| Restaurant meals | $629.94 |
| Eggs | $318.04 |
| Milk | $357.55 |
| Bread | $693.57 |
| Meat | $576.39 |
| Fresh fruit | $711.06 |
Cost of living in 1977 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1977, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1977 costs in August 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 453%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1977 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1977 today$531.61 | Compared with inflation4% less than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1977 today$479.37 | Compared with inflation13% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1977 today$629.94 | Compared with inflation14% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1977 today$318.04 | Compared with inflation42% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1977 today$357.55 | Compared with inflation35% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1977 today$693.57 | Compared with inflation25% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1977 today$576.39 | Compared with inflation4% more than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1977 today$711.06 | Compared with inflation29% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1977 today$530.26 | Compared with inflation4% less than inflation |
| Coffee | $100 in 1977 today$263.58 | Compared with inflation52% less than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1977 today$429.22 | Compared with inflation22% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1977 today$2,925.69 | Compared with inflation429% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1977 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1977 today$686.95 | Compared with inflation24% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1977 today$538.49 | Compared with inflation3% less than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1977 today$621.37 | Compared with inflation12% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1977 today$1,133.19 | Compared with inflation105% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1977 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1977 today$673.58 | Compared with inflation22% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1977 today$248.71 | Compared with inflation55% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1977 today$328.94 | Compared with inflation40% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1977 today$578.85 | Compared with inflation5% more than inflation |
| Airfare | $100 in 1977 today$696.86 | Compared with inflation26% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1977 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1977 today$172.98 | Compared with inflation69% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1977 today$198.37 | Compared with inflation64% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1977 today$1,040.12 | Compared with inflation88% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1977 today$748.29 | Compared with inflation35% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1977 today$977.26 | Compared with inflation77% more than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1977 today$459.22 | Compared with inflation17% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1977 today$638.76 | Compared with inflation16% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1977 worth today?
$1 in 1977 has about the same buying power as $5.53 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1977?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1977 was 6.5%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1976 to 1977.
What was the minimum wage in 1977?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1977 was $2.30 an hour, or about $12.71 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1977?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1977, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1977 costs about $2925.69 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $172.98.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1977 annual average to August 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1977 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 | $552.77 |
| Food | $531.61 |
| Groceries | $479.37 |
| Restaurant meals | $629.94 |
| Eggs | $318.04 |
| Milk | $357.55 |
| Bread | $693.57 |
| Meat | $576.39 |
| Fresh fruit | $711.06 |