The 1950s: Postwar Prosperity and Cheap Everything
The 1950s were the golden age of affordability. A booming postwar economy, low inflation, and rapid suburban expansion meant most goods were cheap by any standard. A new car ran about $1,500, gas was under 30 cents a gallon, and a family could buy a house for less than $20,000.
Decade Highlights
- Gas hovered between $0.27 and $0.31 per gallon for the entire decade.
- The minimum wage rose from $0.75 to $1.00 in 1956.
- Median home prices stayed under $20,000 through the end of the decade.
What Things Cost in the 1950s
Gallon of Gas
$0.29
New Car
$1,510 - $1,910
Dozen Eggs
$0.60
Gallon of Milk
$0.92
Loaf of Bread
$0.14
Movie Ticket
$0.50
Minimum Wage
$0.75 - $1.00/hr
Median Home
~$17,000
Explore the Full Data
Dive into the year-by-year numbers for each dataset.