What things cost in 1983 vs. today

In 1983, a dozen eggs cost $0.89, a gallon of gas cost $1.24, a pound of white bread cost $0.54 and a pound of coffee cost $2.47. Overall, $1 in 1983 buys about as much as $3.36 today.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracked average prices for 27 of these everyday items in both 1983 and August 2026. After adjusting for inflation, 11 of them cost more today than in 1983, and 16 are cheaper in real terms.

Rose faster than inflation

Heating oil: $1.10 → $5.15 per gallon (39% above inflation)
Navel oranges: $0.39 → $1.71 per lb (31% above inflation)
Grapefruit: $0.37 → $1.60 per lb (31% above inflation)
Ground chuck: $1.73 → $6.77 per lb (16% above inflation)
Ground coffee: $2.47 → $9.30 per lb (12% above inflation)

Cheaper today after inflation

Chicken legs: $1.04 → $1.67 per lb (52% below inflation)
Bananas: $0.39 → $0.65 per lb (50% below inflation)
Rice: $0.47 → $1.11 per lb (30% below inflation)
Electricity: $0.08 → $0.20 per kWh (26% below inflation)
Flour: $0.22 → $0.55 per lb (25% below inflation)

1983 prices vs. today

Each row shows the average 1983 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

Item	1983	1983 price in today's dollars	August 2026	vs. inflation
Gasoline, regular / gallon	$1.24	$4.17	$4.20	Same
Gasoline, premium / gallon	$1.38	$4.65	$5.13	+10%
Electricity / kWh	$0.08	$0.26	$0.20	−26%
Natural gas (piped) / therm	$0.65	$2.18	$1.71	−21%
Heating oil / gallon	$1.10	$3.70	$5.15	+39%

Meat & poultry

Item	1983	1983 price in today's dollars	August 2026	vs. inflation
Ground chuck / lb	$1.73	$5.82	$6.77	+16%
Round steak / lb	$2.90	$9.75	$9.69	Same
Round roast / lb	$2.55	$8.59	$8.96	+4%
Bacon / lb	$1.94	$6.53	$6.61	+1%
Whole chicken / lb	$0.72	$2.44	$2.01	−17%
Chicken legs / lb	$1.04	$3.51	$1.67	−52%

Dairy & eggs

Item	1983	1983 price in today's dollars	August 2026	vs. inflation
Eggs, grade A large / dozen	$0.89	$3.01	$2.27	−24%
Ice cream / ½ gallon	$2.16	$7.26	$5.85	−19%

Fruits & vegetables

Item	1983	1983 price in today's dollars	August 2026	vs. inflation
Bananas / lb	$0.39	$1.30	$0.65	−50%
Navel oranges / lb	$0.39	$1.30	$1.71	+31%
Grapefruit / lb	$0.37	$1.23	$1.60	+31%
Lemons / lb	$0.75	$2.51	$2.11	−16%
Strawberries / 12 oz	$0.76	$2.57	$2.58	Same
Tomatoes / lb	$0.78	$2.64	$1.98	−25%
Iceberg lettuce / lb	$0.55	$1.86	$1.47	−21%

Pantry & bakery

Item	1983	1983 price in today's dollars	August 2026	vs. inflation
White bread / lb	$0.54	$1.82	$1.82	Same
Flour / lb	$0.22	$0.73	$0.55	−25%
Rice / lb	$0.47	$1.59	$1.11	−30%
Sugar / lb	$0.36	$1.22	$1.02	−16%
Chocolate chip cookies / lb	$1.82	$6.11	$5.21	−15%
Potato chips / 16 oz	$2.50	$8.42	$6.75	−20%

Drinks

Item	1983	1983 price in today's dollars	August 2026	vs. inflation
Ground coffee / lb	$2.47	$8.29	$9.30	+12%

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 1983 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 1983 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 1983 inflation calculator.

Prices in other years

← What things cost in 1982 · What things cost in 1984 →

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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