Additional Coverage:
- 15 Things You Could Buy for Under $1 in the 1950s (blog.cheapism.com)
Remember When? 15 Things That Cost Less Than a Dollar in the 1950s
Ever dream of a time when things were actually affordable? Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s, when a dollar could stretch surprisingly far.
While prices varied across the country, these 15 items typically cost less than a buck back then. We’ve also adjusted the prices for 2025 inflation to show just how much things have changed.
Grocery Staples:
- Dozen Eggs: Around 60 cents in the ’50s (equivalent to $7.22 today). Sigh.
- Loaf of Bread: A mere 15 cents (equivalent to $1.81 today). Wonder Bread was a lunchbox staple.
Sweet Treats:
- Scoop of Ice Cream: Between 5 and 20 cents (equivalent to $0.60 – $2.41 today). Imagine grabbing a cone at Woolworth’s for a nickel!
Entertainment:
- Movie Ticket: Roughly 45 cents (equivalent to $5.42 today). Date night wouldn’t break the bank.
Everyday Essentials:
- Coca-Cola: Just 5 cents (equivalent to $0.60 today). A nickel for a Coke?
Those were the days.
- Gallon of Gas: An unbelievable 27 cents (equivalent to $3.25 today).
Fill ‘er up!
- School Lunch: A quarter (25 cents) would get you a satisfying meal (equivalent to $3.01 today).
Meatloaf, chili, and cinnamon rolls were common cafeteria fare.
- Pay Phone Call: 5 cents (equivalent to $0.60 today).
Surprisingly, pay phones today (if you can find one) are still around 50 cents.
- Toothpaste: Around 50 cents (equivalent to $6.02 today).
That would buy a tube for the whole family.
- Bar of Soap: Between 10 and 15 cents (equivalent to $1.20-$1.81 today).
Back then, soap was primarily for cleaning, not a luxurious spa experience.
- Coffee: Between 5 and 10 cents (equivalent to $0.60-$1.20 today).
A nickel cup of coffee at the local diner? Sign us up!
- Stamps: Only 3 cents (equivalent to $0.36 today). Makes today’s Forever Stamp price seem a bit steep.
- Box of Matches: 5 cents (equivalent to $0.60 today). A readily available and inexpensive source of fire.
Dining Out:
- In-N-Out Burger Meal: A complete meal (burger, fries, and drink) for just 55 cents (equivalent to $6.62 today). An unbeatable value for the time.
- Bus Ticket: Between 10 and 15 cents (equivalent to $1.20-$1.81 today). Public transportation was a bargain.
It’s fascinating to see how much the cost of living has changed over the decades. While we may not be able to return to 1950s prices, it’s fun to reminisce about a time when a dollar could go a long way.
Read More About This Story:
- 15 Things You Could Buy for Under $1 in the 1950s (blog.cheapism.com)