{"id":6916,"date":"2025-11-25T11:52:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T19:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aboutclassmates.com\/blog\/?p=6916"},"modified":"2026-06-01T07:02:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T14:02:46","slug":"1960s-grocery-food-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.classmates.com\/blog\/1960s-grocery-food-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Did Groceries Cost in the 1960s? \u201860s Food Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you grew up in the \u201860s, you probably remember how much buying power a single dollar gave you. You could fill up your car with a gallon of gas for just 30 cents, enjoy the latest blockbuster at the theatre for 80 cents, and buy a week\u2019s worth of groceries for less than $20. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the average American household pays more than $200 a week on groceries, which is more than 10x what food cost in the 1960s. Oh, how the times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a stroll down a 1960s supermarket to see how much each food item on the shelf cost then, starting with food prices in 1960. If you weren\u2019t alive back then, here\u2019s a warning: the 1960s food prices will <\/em>shock you. Let’s take a look at the prices of commonly used items in the 1960s compared to today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grocery<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A real U.S. based grocery store in the 1960s<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary Hoover, CC BY-SA 4.0 https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
– Massive Price Inflation:<\/strong> A week\u2019s worth of groceries in the 1960s cost less than $20, whereas the average American household now spends over $200 per week.
– The “Dollar” Standard:<\/strong> Throughout the ’60s, many staple meat items such as ground beef, chuck roast, and bacon were priced under $1.00 per pound. Today, those same cuts can range from $7 to $15 per pound.
– Dairy & Doorstep Delivery:<\/strong> In the 1960s, fresh milk was frequently delivered to homes for roughly 50 cents per half-gallon. While delivery is now a luxury service, the retail price for milk has quadrupled to over $2.00.
– Produce Evolution:<\/strong> 1960s supermarkets lacked the fresh produce seen in grocery stores today, so shoppers relied on local greengrocers for fresh items. Canned and frozen vegetables dominated the grocery aisles.
– Snacks & Sweets for Cents:<\/strong> In the mid-1960s, a chocolate bar cost just 5 cents and a dozen donuts were only 69 cents. Today, these items have seen some of the highest percentage price hikes, now costing $1.50 and $13.00, respectively.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How Much Did Food Cost in the 1960s vs. Today?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \u201860s were a cheaper time. If you found a few stray dollars in your pocket, you could have a burger, fries, and milkshake<\/a> with your friends and still have some money left over! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s have a look at how 1960s grocery prices compare to today<\/a> (and how they changed throughout the \u201860s). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The meat section was the highlight of any \u201860s supermarket. You could get a whole pound of meat for (mostly) less than a dollar back then. A good meatloaf, tuna casserole, or hamburger pie could fill up your belly and your soul. 1960 grocery prices were especially cheap, with a pound of chicken costing only \u00a243.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meat Type<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960<\/strong><\/a> (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965<\/strong><\/a> (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1969 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Round steak beef<\/strong><\/td>\u00a2105.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a2108.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a2126.7 per lb.<\/td>$15 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Chuck roast beef<\/strong><\/td>\u00a261.6 per lb.<\/td>\u00a259.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a270.4 per lb.<\/td>$12.12 per lb.<\/td><\/tr>
Beef hamburger<\/strong><\/td>\u00a252.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a250.8 per lb.<\/td>\u00a2 per lb.<\/td>$12.06 per lb.<\/td><\/tr>
Pork chops<\/strong><\/td>\u00a285.8 per lb.<\/td>\u00a297.3 per lb.<\/td>\u00a2112.2 per lb.<\/td>$4.35 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Bacon<\/strong><\/td>\u00a265.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a281.3 per lb.<\/td>\u00a287.8 per lb.<\/td>$7.29 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Chicken<\/strong><\/td>\u00a243 per lb.<\/td>\u00a239 per lb.<\/td>\u00a248 per lb.<\/a><\/td>$4.17 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Lamb <\/strong><\/td>\u00a274 per lb.<\/td>\u00a2141.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a2181 per lb.<\/td>$18.07 per lb. leg<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\u00a245 per lb.<\/td>\u00a248.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a246 per lb.<\/td>$1.71 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Eggs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’re probably wondering, how much were groceries in 1960?<\/em> Well, at the start of the decade, you could get a dozen large, Grade A eggs for the price of \u00a257.3. The prices of food in 1965 were also notably cheap, with a dozen eggs costing only \u00a252.7. Towards the end of the decade in 1967, the price increased slightly with a dozen eggs costing you \u00a262.1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, egg prices have increased dramatically. In the middle of 2025, you had to pay $5-$6 for a dozen eggs<\/a> on average. In late 2025, though, costs have come back down, hovering in the $2-$3 range for a set of 12 eggs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dairy Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’re also likely wondering, how much did milk cost in the 1960s? <\/em>Well, in the \u201860s, you didn\u2019t necessarily have to make a trip to the grocery store to get milk. You could have fresh milk delivered right to your doorstep everyday for just an extra cent or two. And a single dollar could cover an entire gallon of milk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1969 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Fresh milk<\/strong><\/td>\u00a249.4 per half gallon<\/td>\u00a247.3 per half gallon<\/td>\u00a254.2 per half gallon<\/a><\/td>$2.3 per half gallon<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Delivered milk<\/strong><\/td>\u00a252 per half gallon<\/td>\u00a252.6 per half gallon<\/td>\u00a262.9 per half gallon<\/td>      \u2014<\/td><\/tr>
Butter<\/strong><\/td>\u00a274.9 per lb.<\/td>\u00a275.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a284.6 per lb.<\/td>$4.7 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
American cheese<\/strong><\/td>\u00a234.3 per half lb.<\/td>\u00a237.7 per half lb.<\/td>\u00a245 per half lb.<\/td>$2.46 per half lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Ice cream<\/strong><\/td>\u00a286.8 per half gallon<\/td>\u00a278.7 per half gallon<\/td>\u00a251 per half gallon<\/td>$6.5 per half gallon<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fruits (Fresh and Processed)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised to know that 1960s supermarkets barely had any fresh produce. Organic? Most of the general public hadn\u2019t even heard of that word by then. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common fruits in the 1960s were oranges, apples, and bananas. Fruits like kiwi and avocado that are mainstream today were considered rare and exotic back then. Remember being served those sickly sweet canned peaches or apple crisps at your school cafeteria<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh Fruits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fruits<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1968 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Apples<\/strong><\/td>\u00a216.2 per lb.<\/td>\u00a217.8 per lb.<\/td>\u00a223.8 per lb.<\/td>$1.6 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Bananas<\/strong><\/td>\u00a215.9 per dozen <\/td>\u00a216 per lb.<\/td>\u00a215.5 per lb.<\/td>$0.65 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Oranges <\/strong><\/td>\u00a274.8 per dozen<\/td>\u00a277.8 per dozen<\/td>\u00a296.6 per dozen<\/td>$1.59 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Grapefruit <\/strong><\/td>\u00a214.4each<\/td>\u00a214.1 each <\/td>\u00a216.6 each<\/td>$1.37 each<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Strawberries<\/strong><\/td>\u00a234.3 per pint<\/td>\u00a235.9 per pint<\/td>\u00a240.2 per pint<\/td>$2.6 per pint<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Watermelon<\/strong><\/td>\u00a25.1 per lb.<\/td>\u00a25.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a26.6 per lb.<\/td>$0.62 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Seedless grapes<\/strong><\/td>\u00a225.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a229.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a237.3 per lb.<\/td>$2.4 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Processed Fruits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1968 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Orange juice concentrate<\/strong><\/td>\u00a222.5 per 6 ounces<\/td>\u00a223.7 per 6 ounces<\/td>\u00a221.1 per 6 ounces<\/td>$2.368 per 6 ounces<\/td><\/tr>
Lemonade concentrate<\/strong><\/td>\u00a213.4 per 6 ounces<\/td>\u00a212.8 per 6 ounces<\/td>\u00a212.4 per 6 ounces<\/td>$1.245 per 6 ounces<\/td><\/tr>
Fruit cocktail<\/strong><\/td>\u00a227 per can<\/td>\u00a226.1 per can<\/td>\u00a228.3 per can<\/td>$2.59 per can<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vegetables (Fresh and Processed)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Walk into any supermarket today, and you\u2019ll be greeted with a fresh produce aisle with a rainbow of vegetables being sprayed with mist. This wasn\u2019t a thing back in the 1960s. People mostly relied on local greengrocers and farmer\u2019s markets to buy fresh produce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was also the decade where frozen and canned vegetables rose in popularity. They were convenient, sure, but they were not<\/em> tasty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh Vegetables<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Vegetables<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1968 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Potatoes<\/strong><\/td>\u00a271.8 per 10 lbs.<\/td>\u00a293.7 per 10 lbs.<\/td>\u00a276.3 per 10 lbs.<\/td>$10.1 per 10 lbs.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Onions<\/strong><\/td>\u00a29.2 per lb.<\/td>\u00a211.9 per lb.<\/td>\u00a215 per lb.<\/td>$3.70 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Carrots<\/strong><\/td>\u00a214.1 per lb.<\/td>\u00a215.3 per lb.<\/td>\u00a218.7 per lb.<\/td>$1.32 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Lettuce<\/strong><\/td>\u00a217.3 per head<\/td>\u00a225.5 per head<\/td>\u00a227.5 per head<\/td>$2.48 per head<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Celery<\/strong><\/td>\u00a213.9 per lb.<\/td>\u00a215.6 per lb.<\/td>\u00a216.8 per lb.<\/td>$0.80 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Cabbage<\/strong><\/td>\u00a29.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a210.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a212 per lb.<\/td>$0.86 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Tomatoes<\/strong><\/td>\u00a231.6 per lb.<\/td>\u00a234.3 per lb.<\/td>\u00a240.2 per lb.<\/td>$1.91 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Navy beans<\/strong><\/td>\u00a216.7 per lb.<\/td>\u00a217.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a219.6 per lb.<\/td>$1.35 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Processed Vegetables<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Product<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1968 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Canned tomatoes<\/strong><\/td>\u00a215.9 per can<\/td>\u00a216.1 per can<\/td>\u00a220.4 per can<\/td>$2.99 per can<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Canned green peas<\/strong><\/td>\u00a220.7 per can<\/td>\u00a223.7 per can<\/td>\u00a224.5 per can<\/td>$1.39 per can<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Dried beans<\/strong><\/td>\u00a216.7 per lb.<\/td>\u00a217.5 per lb.<\/td>\u00a219.6 per lb.<\/td>$1.99 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seafood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Love a good shrimp cocktail? So did people in the 1960s. Remember how restaurants and bars often offered a free plate of fried shrimp<\/a> for you to enjoy as you waited for your main courses to be delivered?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you lived near the coast, you could head out to the dock and buy freshly caught seafood, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seafood<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1968 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Frozen shrimp<\/strong><\/td>    \u2014<\/td>\u00a273.1 per 10 ounces<\/td>\u00a284.3 per 10 ounces<\/td>$12.49 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Frozen ocean perch fillet<\/strong><\/td>\u00a247.4 per lb.<\/td>\u00a253.7 per lb.<\/td>\u00a254.3 per lb.<\/td>$10 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Frozen haddock fillet<\/strong><\/td>\u00a255.7 per lb.<\/td>\u00a262.1 per lb.<\/td>\u00a267.5 per lb.<\/td>$11.99 per lb.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Canned tuna<\/strong><\/td>\u00a232.5 per 6.5 ounce can<\/td>\u00a232 per 6.5 ounce can<\/td>\u00a234.5 per 6.5 ounce can<\/td>$1.29 per 5 ounce can<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Baking Goods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you walked into a 1960s kitchen, you could smell the freshly baked aroma of homemade bread, sponge cakes, cookies, and pies. A load of bread in the 1960s cost just \u00a220.30. Pancakes were a common breakfast food (and the go-to order for kids at family diners), and homemade cookies with milk were the<\/em> after-school snack<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product <\/strong><\/th>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/th>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/th>Prices in 1969 (in cents)<\/strong><\/th>Prices in 2025 (in dollars)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr>
Wheat flour<\/strong><\/th>\u00a255.4 per 5 lbs.<\/th>\u00a258.1 per 5 lbs.<\/th>\u00a258.1 per 5 lbs.<\/th>$2.81 per 5 lbs.<\/a><\/th><\/tr>
Bread<\/strong><\/th>\u00a220.3 per lb.<\/th>\u00a220.9 per lb.<\/th>\u00a223 per lb.<\/th>$1.87 per lb.<\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Sugar<\/strong><\/td>\u00a258.2 per 5 lbs.<\/td>\u00a259 per 5 lbs.<\/td>\u00a260 per 5 lbs.<\/td>$5.21 per 5 lbs.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Grape jelly<\/strong><\/td>\u00a228.8 per 12 ounces<\/td>\u00a231.2 per 12 ounces<\/td>\u00a226.6 per 12 ounces<\/td>$8 per 12 ounces<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1960 food prices also included angel food cake for the price of only \u00a239<\/a>, as well as a mere \u00a233 for a pecan crunch coffee cake. For the paltry sum of \u00a29 you could buy a 12-ounce package<\/a> of pancake mix!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 ounces of vanilla cookies were just \u00a224.5 in the \u201860s, while a pound of cream-filled cookies only cost you double at half a dollar. A pack of dozen donuts by Dunkin\u2019 Donuts? Just \u00a269<\/a>! That\u2019s an entire office meeting snack covered with pocket change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, a slice of cake can cost you upwards of $6, while a 12 ounce pancake mix costs $7<\/a>. You\u2019ll have to shell out $5 for a pound<\/a> of chocolate chip cookies, while a 12-pack of donuts would be $13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakfast Cereals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The prices of cereals may have risen exponentially in the past few decades, but you know what hasn\u2019t changed? People\u2019s love for them. They are a breakfast staple today, and they were a breakfast staple in the \u201860s, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then, a 12-ounce package of corn flakes was a quarter dollar (\u00a225), while an 18-ounce packet of rolled oats was \u00a222. Today, an 18-ounce package<\/a> of corn flakes is $3.98, while a 12-ounce packet<\/a> of rolled oats costs $3. Talk about inflation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beverages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carbonated drinks like Dr. Pepper and Pepsi were very popular even back then, costing around 10 cents (or 2 nickels) each. Coffee, of course, was consumed by a large portion of the population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1960 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1965 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td>Prices in 1968 (in cents)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Coffee (can)<\/strong><\/td>\u00a275.3 per lb.<\/td>\u00a283.3 per lb.<\/td>\u00a276.4 per lb.<\/td><\/tr>
Coffee (bag)<\/strong><\/td>\u00a259.2 per lb.<\/td>\u00a271.1 per lb.<\/td>\u00a262.6 per lb.<\/td><\/tr>
Tea bags<\/strong><\/td>\u00a224.4 per 16-pack<\/td>\u00a262.2 per 48-pack<\/td>\u00a260.7 per 48-pack<\/td><\/tr>
Cola drink<\/strong><\/td>\u00a229.8 per 26-ounce carton<\/td>\u00a254.8 per 72-ounce carton<\/td>\u00a265.1 per 72-ounce carton<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, the cost of coffee is $9.2 per lb.<\/a>, while you can expect to pay around $4 for 40 tea bags<\/a>. If you want specialty tea, the prices can be double or triple that of standard tea. As for a 20-ounce cola bottle, it costs $1.97<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snacks and Candy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201860s supermarket shelves weren\u2019t as stocked with snacks. Unlike today, there were precious few options available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 ounces of potato chips were just \u00a227, while a chocolate bar only cost a nickel! You could get 8 ounces of pretzels for \u00a231, and 9 ounces of frozen french fries for \u00a217.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you were to buy the same products today, you\u2019ll be paying $1.8 per 4 ounces of potato chips, $1.5 for a chocolate bar, and $1.81<\/a> for 8 ounces of pretzels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Were Grocery Stores Like in the \u201860s? Then vs. Now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how the grocery stores of the 1960s<\/a> differ from those of today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n