20 Photos of When the U.S. Was a Much, Much Cheaper Place

Daniel Bonfiglio Published Yesterday in wow

I understand that prices go up over time, wealth is relative, and money is just a social construct. But butter me and call me a biscuit, we live in the age of some outrageous prices!

Now don't ruin my fun by whipping out your inflation calculator and pointing out that $50 in 1960 is worth $540.20 today! (Wait, that's still a great deal.) Just let me revel in the thought of paying less than a dollar per gallon in gas.

Here are 20 photos from back when life just cost less.

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1. Five Cents
Throw in some fishing worms!
2. Las Vegas Stretch
Land for sale in 1955.

Loomis Dean
3. Eight Cent Socks
Clothing Prices, 1930s.
4. Filling Up
Getting gas in the mid to late 1970s.
5. Mortgage Payments
Less than $50! Late ‘50s.
6. 16¢
$.16 of buying power in 1935 equals $3.66 now.
7. Grocery Shopping
Deals in the 1960s.
8. 19¢
$.19 of buying power in 1960 equals $2.01 in 2024.

UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections
9. Mopar, 1970
Muscle cars for well under five grand. That's a Camry in today's money.
10. Sears Modern Homes Catalogue, 1911
“This house can be built for about $1,573.00.” (That's $53,000 today. Dirt cheap.)
11. 15¢
$.15 of buying power in 1940 equals $3.43 today.
12. Used Car Lot
Selling vehicles in the 1930s.
13. Dainty Frocks
Expensive ones too, 1920s.
14. 27¢
$.27 of buying power in 1962 equals $2.80 in 2024.
15. Cheap Gas
And S&H green stamps, 1950s.
16. Food Prices
March, 1956.
17. Hot Dog and Lemonade Carts
Broad Street, New York, 1906. The price is listed as "3 cents each or 2 for 5 cents."
18. Reliable
Eight gallons for one dollar.

Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection, Security Pacific National Bank Collection
19. McKee
Prices in 1972.
20. Covid Prices
Not that long ago, huh?

1. Five Cents
Throw in some fishing worms!
2. Las Vegas Stretch
Loomis Dean

Land for sale in 1955.
3. Eight Cent Socks
Clothing Prices, 1930s.
4. Filling Up
Getting gas in the mid to late 1970s.
5. Mortgage Payments
Less than $50! Late ‘50s.
6. 16¢
$.16 of buying power in 1935 equals $3.66 now.
7. Grocery Shopping
Deals in the 1960s.
8. 19¢
UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections

$.19 of buying power in 1960 equals $2.01 in 2024.
9. Mopar, 1970
Muscle cars for well under five grand. That's a Camry in today's money.
10. Sears Modern Homes Catalogue, 1911
“This house can be built for about $1,573.00.” (That's $53,000 today. Dirt cheap.)
11. 15¢
$.15 of buying power in 1940 equals $3.43 today.
12. Used Car Lot
Selling vehicles in the 1930s.
13. Dainty Frocks
Expensive ones too, 1920s.
14. 27¢
$.27 of buying power in 1962 equals $2.80 in 2024.
15. Cheap Gas
And S&H green stamps, 1950s.
16. Food Prices
March, 1956.
17. Hot Dog and Lemonade Carts
Broad Street, New York, 1906. The price is listed as "3 cents each or 2 for 5 cents."
18. Reliable
Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection, Security Pacific National Bank Collection

Eight gallons for one dollar.
19. McKee
Prices in 1972.
20. Covid Prices
Not that long ago, huh?