Here are fifive common expenses that used to be insanely cheap
The U.S. was a much different place 100 years ago. The country was just entering World War I and prices for just about every thing surged to an all-time high. Most people’s wages were less than $2,000 a year — the equivalent of $41,511 today — according to statistics by the
Check out this cost of living comparison that shows you how prices then compare to the same items now. Homes
In 1917, you would have paid about $5,000 for a home — or about $103,777 in today’s money. The average home in 1967 went for $24,600 — more than $180,000 in 2017 dollars. The average home sold for $372,500 last year. That’s an increase of more than 300 percent over 1917 housing prices.
Cars
While many wartime products went up in price in 1917, cars went down. Less than four months after the U.S. entered World War I, Ford Motor Co. slashed its prices. The cost of Ford cars ranged from just $325 to 645 — or $6,745 to $13,387 in today’s money. By 1967, the price had risen to $3,215 — $23,730 by 2017 standards.
But today’s car prices have rolled back to a trend not seen since 1916. With an average price of $34,000, most American families can no longer afffffffffffford to buy a new car.
College education
In 1917, you only had about 300 colleges and universities to choose from in the U.S., but you also paid a lot less to attend. Tuition at a private college ran from $75 to $150 per year, with higher numbers at Ivy League schools like the University of Pennsylvania, which charged $200 for tuition. Add in room and board at $185-$350 and textbooks for up to $25 and your cost could be close to $600 per year for private school.
That’s $12,453 in 2017 dollars, a bargain considering the same will cost you more than $45,000 per year today. In 1967, a Penn education would have cost $25,833 in today ’s money or $3,500 actual dollars then.
Apples
In 1917, apples cost just 2 cents per pound — a shockingly low 15 cents in today’s economy. By 1967, modern apple favorites such as the Fuji hit the markets, and you could sink your teeth into one for 6 cents per pound, 44 cents in today’s money.
In 2017, apples cost you an average of $1.43 per pound, but you’ll pay about 2.76 a pound for specialty variet- ies like Honeycrisp.
Wheat bread
Sliced bread was unheard of in 1917. If you were headed to the bakery, you would swap a dime for a whole, un-sliced loaf. That works out to $2.08 by 2017 monetary standards. By 1967, the convenience of storebought sliced bre ad had found itself en masse onto store shelves, bringing the cost to 22 cents, or $1.62 in 2017 standards. Today, Americans pay an average of 2.31 for a pound loaf.