In the 1960s, These 20 Things Cost the Same as a Starbucks Coffee
We usually don’t think twice about the cost of our morning coffee. However, in the 1960s, that money would have stretched far beyond our morning cup of joe. Are you old enough to remember the prices of these items back then?
An Average Cup of Joe
Depending on the location, a 12-ounce (oz) cup of freshly brewed Starbucks coffee can cost anywhere from $2.75 to $3.15. To be conservative, this list accounts for the lower $2.75 price point.
1: Tank of Gas
In 1960, a gallon of gas averaged $0.25. Given that some cars have a 10.5-gallon gas tank, you could have easily bought a tank of gas for the cost of a Starbucks coffee.
2: 50 Stamps
Stamps in 1960 were available in sheets of 20 for $1. That means you could buy 50 of them for $2.50, less than your morning cup of joe. Today, stamps cost $0.68 each.
3: A Full Dinner
Actually, you could buy more than one full dinner back in 1960 for the cost of a Starbucks coffee nowadays. One family restaurant chain in California, Oscar’s, offered a hamburger, french fries, salad, and dessert for a buck, putting McDonald’s Dollar Menu to shame.
4: Two Gallons of Milk
As of January 2024, the average cost of a gallon of milk in the US is $4.33, surpassing the cost of a freshly brewed coffee from Starbucks. In 1960, though, milk only cost $0.95 per gallon, so you could have purchased two gallons for less than $2.75, including tax.
5: Enough Eggs To Make 30 Pumpkin Pies
In 1960, a dozen eggs cost about $0.53, meaning you could have purchased five dozen eggs. That’s enough to make 30 pumpkin pies!
6: A Chocolate Bar For Each of the Kansas City Chiefs
Hershey’s bars cost $.05 in 1960. So, you could purchase a chocolate bar for each of the 54 players on the Kansas City Chiefs’s active roster, plus one for yourself.
7: A Movie Date
Your typical movie showing cost $1.00 in 1960. For the price of your average cup of coffee at Starbucks, you could have seen the latest blockbuster with a date. You’d even have enough left over to splurge on popcorn and a Coca-Cola.
8: Over Two Dozen Cans of Coke
In 1960, a can of Coke ran $0.10 each. For $2.75, you could purchase 27 cans, leaving you $.05 leftover for a Hershey’s bar.
9: All Your Shaving Essentials
In 1960, you could get a can of shaving cream for $0.59 and a ten-pack of Gillette razors for $0.99. Today, cans of shaving cream cost you $1.50, and razors often run over $1.65 per unit.
10: A Steak Dinner
A pound of sirloin steak in 1960 ran about $0.85. For well under $2.75, you and a friend could easily grill up a steak, potatoes ($0.03 per pound), and asparagus ($0.19 per pound).
11: Everything Needed To Fight the Flu
Today, a bottle of Dayquil costs about $10, but in 1960, you could get all the meds you needed for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee. Aspirin cost $1 for 100 tablets, a jar of cough syrup was $0.59, and you could get ten decongestant tablets for $0.77.
12: A New Outfit
Alright, this one is a bit of a stretch. Clothes in 1960 were cheaper, but the average skirt ran about $5.00, more than today’s cup of coffee. However, paper clothes were a thing at the time, and you could get a paper dress for $1.25.
13: Beer
In 1960, you might pay as little as $0.99 for a six-pack. For the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee, you could pick up two six-packs. The cheapest beers today are closer to $0.99 per can.
14: A Mini Makeover
Even in 1960 $2.75 wouldn’t get you plastic surgery or a new wardrobe. But it could get you new lipstick ($1.75) and fresh nail polish ($0.75).
15: A Paperback Book
In 1960, you could enjoy a new book for about $1.65 per novel. Today, paperbacks cost somewhere around $12.
16: Your Thanksgiving Turkey
Thanksgiving turkey cost $0.39 per pound in 1960, so you purchase a small bird for the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee today. At the time, an entire Thanksgiving meal with all of the sides came out to only $6.71 for ten people. In 2023, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner averaged $61.70.
17: Plenty of Peanut Butter
A jar of Skippy Peanut Butter cost about $0.79 in 1960, which means you could have bought three jars for the price of a Starbucks coffee today.
18: New Sheets
A new sheet for your bed cost as little as $1.76 in 1960, well below the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee now. Today, the cheapest flat sheets cost about $5.
19: Two Weeks of The New York Times
In 1960, The New York Times ran $0.10 per issue Monday through Saturday and $0.30 on Sunday. So, for a cup of coffee today, you could purchase about two weeks’ worth of newspapers. Today, a digital subscription costs over $6 per month.
20: Way More Coffee
You could get a cup of coffee for about $0.34 in 1960, which means you could guzzle down eight cups for the cost of one mug of Starbucks coffee today.
Loss of Buying Power
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, $2.75 in 1960 has the same buying power as $28.95 today. The decrease in buying power comes from inflation.
An Inflated Economy
Currently, inflation in the US is higher than normal. In January 2024, the inflation rate was 3.9%. That said, inflation today is minimal compared to what the US has seen in the past. In 1965, inflation began to rise, and by 1980, it had reached over 12%.
Don’t Get Too Nostalgic
Before you start reminiscing about the low prices of times past, keep in mind that wages were much lower in 1960. The median household income was only $5,600. Today, it’s $74,580.
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