What things cost the year you were born: 1957
In 1957 a quart of milk cost 23.4 cents at the grocery, a pound of white bread 18.8 cents and a gallon of gasoline about 31 cents. One 1957 dollar is worth about $11.92 today, based on the consumer price index (28.1 in 1957, 334.98 in August 2026).
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1957 prices and their value today
| Item | 1957 price | In today's dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Milk, at the grocery (quart) | 23.4¢ | $2.79 |
| Milk, delivered to the door (quart) | 25¢ | $2.98 |
| White bread (pound) | 18.8¢ | $2.24 |
| Eggs, Grade A large (year average) (dozen). 47.9 cents in June, 69.5 cents in October | 57.3¢ | $6.83 |
| Butter (pound) | 74.3¢ | $8.86 |
| Ground beef (pound) | 42¢ | $5.01 |
| Round steak (pound) | 93.6¢ | $11.16 |
| Frying chicken (pound) | 46.9¢ | $5.59 |
| Potatoes (10 pounds) | 57.1¢ | $6.81 |
| Coffee, can (year average) (pound). 108.2 cents in January, 95.0 cents in December | $1.02 | $12.12 |
| Chocolate bar (1 ounce). The same price in all twelve months | 4.5¢ | $0.54 |
| Gasoline (average) (gallon) | 31¢ | $3.70 |
| First-class stamp (letter) | 3¢ | $0.36 |
1957 dollar converter
In August 2026 dollars
$11.92
$1.00 in 1957 had the same buying power as $11.92 in August 2026 (CPI-U).
How the 1957 dollar converter works
The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) averaged 28.1 in 1957. In August 2026 it stood at 334.98. Dividing the second by the first gives 11.92, so each 1957 dollar equals about $11.92 today. Multiply any 1957 price by 11.92 to see it in today's money.
Why the monthly prices tell a better story
Most lists give one price for the year. The government records show more. Eggs fell to 47.9 cents a dozen in June 1957, then climbed to 69.5 cents in October, about 45% higher. Coffee fell almost every month, from 108.2 cents a pound in January to 95.0 cents in December. The one-ounce chocolate bar stayed at 4.5 cents all year.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these prices come from?
The food prices come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 1254, Retail Prices of Food 1957-58, published in 1959. We read them from the original document rather than copying later websites.
Why not show what these items cost today?
Store prices change month to month and by region. The converted value shows what the 1957 price is worth in today's dollars, which does not go stale the same way.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin No. 1254: Retail Prices of Food 1957-58 (1959), U.S. city averages
- FRED: Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPIAUCNS)