What things cost in 1980 vs. today

In 1980, a dozen eggs cost $0.84, a gallon of gas cost $1.25, a pound of white bread cost $0.51 and a pound of coffee cost $3.14. Overall, $1 in 1980 buys about as much as $4.07 today.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracked average prices for 26 of these everyday items in both 1980 and August 2026. After adjusting for inflation, 5 of them cost more today than in 1980, and 21 are cheaper in real terms.

Rose faster than inflation

  • Heating oil: $1.01 → $5.15 per gallon (25% above inflation)
  • Navel oranges: $0.36 → $1.71 per lb (15% above inflation)
  • Grapefruit: $0.35 → $1.60 per lb (11% above inflation)
  • Bacon: $1.46 → $6.61 per lb (11% above inflation)
  • Natural gas (piped): $0.41 → $1.71 per therm (4% above inflation)

Cheaper today after inflation

  • Chicken legs: $1.07 → $1.67 per lb (61% below inflation)
  • Bananas: $0.34 → $0.65 per lb (53% below inflation)
  • Rice: $0.51 → $1.11 per lb (47% below inflation)
  • Sugar: $0.43 → $1.02 per lb (41% below inflation)
  • Flour: $0.21 → $0.55 per lb (36% below inflation)

1980 prices vs. today

Each row shows the average 1980 price, what that price equals in today's dollars, and the actual average price in August 2026. Red items rose faster than inflation; green items got cheaper in real terms.

Gas & energy

Item19801980 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Gasoline, regular / gallon$1.25$5.06$4.20−17%
Electricity / kWh$0.06$0.24$0.20−20%
Natural gas (piped) / therm$0.41$1.65$1.71+4%
Heating oil / gallon$1.01$4.10$5.15+25%

Meat & poultry

Item19801980 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Ground chuck  / lb$1.83$7.45$6.77−9%
Round steak  / lb$2.77$11.25$9.69−14%
Round roast  / lb$2.61$10.61$8.96−16%
Bacon / lb$1.46$5.95$6.61+11%
Whole chicken / lb$0.71$2.88$2.01−30%
Chicken legs  / lb$1.07$4.34$1.67−61%

Dairy & eggs

Item19801980 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Eggs, grade A large / dozen$0.84$3.43$2.27−34%
Ice cream  / ½ gallon$1.82$7.41$5.85−21%

Fruits & vegetables

Item19801980 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Bananas / lb$0.34$1.39$0.65−53%
Navel oranges / lb$0.36$1.48$1.71+15%
Grapefruit  / lb$0.35$1.44$1.60+11%
Lemons  / lb$0.70$2.85$2.11−26%
Strawberries  / 12 oz$0.64$2.60$2.58Same
Tomatoes  / lb$0.67$2.74$1.98−28%
Iceberg lettuce / lb$0.45$1.84$1.47−20%

Pantry & bakery

Item19801980 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
White bread / lb$0.51$2.07$1.82−12%
Flour  / lb$0.21$0.85$0.55−36%
Rice  / lb$0.51$2.08$1.11−47%
Sugar  / lb$0.43$1.74$1.02−41%
Chocolate chip cookies / lb$1.58$6.42$5.21−19%
Potato chips / 16 oz$2.04$8.29$6.75−19%

Drinks

Item19801980 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Ground coffee  / lb$3.14$12.78$9.30−27%

How these prices are calculated

Prices are U.S. city averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price Data, which BLS collects each month for the Consumer Price Index. The 1980 price is the average of that year's available monthly prices, and the "today" price is the latest monthly average, from August 2026. The inflation-adjusted price converts the 1980 price to today's dollars using the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). "vs. inflation" compares the actual price today with that inflation-adjusted price.

To convert any other amount, use the 1980 inflation calculator.

Prices in other years

What things cost in 1981 →

Ian Webster

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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