Who doesn’t love a good steak? Well, vegans and vegetarians, maybe, but when dinner time rolls around, there are few meals that get most of us to the table quicker than a perfectly cooked steak hot out of the frying pan.
Steak has long been synonymous with good eatin’, but it has also always been considered a luxury item. A top-notch example like Japanese wagyu is up there with the most expensive foods on earth. At Scottsdale’s acclaimed Roka Akor, for instance, real-deal Tajima Kobe beef will set you back $68 an ounce, or almost $1,100 a pound! And even a “normal” steak will cost a pretty penny at a good steakhouse, with prices easily topping $50 or $60 for a rib eye or filet mignon. (These are America’s best steakhouses, according to Yelp.)
The price of most foods, including steak, has seen an increase in recent months, due in part to supply chain shortages. But inflation has always been an aspect of everyday life, and it’s obvious that a dollar doesn’t get you nearly as far as it used to. That said, you might be surprised to learn that the cost of a pound of sirloin steak in 1950, when adjusted for inflation, is almost the same as the cost today.
Click here to see the cost of steak the year you were born
To determine the cost of steak the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. calculated the average retail price of a pound of boneless USDA Choice sirloin steak at home in U.S. cities for every year from 1935 to 2020. Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, steak prices were adjusted using the annual consumer price index for beef and veal. For each year, we also adjusted steak prices for overall inflation using the annual consumer price index for all items. (For a more season-specific comparison, check out the cost of a Thanksgiving meal the year you were born.)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
1935
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.22
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.32
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Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press / Wikimedia Commons
1936
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.21
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.07
Source: State Library of New South Wales / Flickr
1937
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.23
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.43
Source: Wikimedia Commons
1938
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.22
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.20
Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons
1939
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.22
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.37
Source: Wikimedia Commons
1940
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.23
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.41
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library (NLFDR) / Wikimedia Commons
1941
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.24
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.51
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Source: National Archives / Getty Images
1942
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.27
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.54
Source: pingnews.com / Flickr
1943
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.27
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.30
Source: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation / Wikimedia Commons
1944
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.26
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.03
Source: National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons
1945
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.26
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $3.94
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
1946
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.33
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.63
Source: National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons
1947
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.47
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.74
Source: Wikimedia Commons
1948
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.57
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.43
24/7 Wall St.
Source: The U.S. National Archives / Flickr
1949
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.06
Source: National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons
1950
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.58
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.60
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1951
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.68
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $7.16
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
1952
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.67
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.97
Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons
1953
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.44
Source: Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons
1954
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.51
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.20
Source: Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons
1955
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.16
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Source: ABC Television / Wikimedia Commons
1956
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.01
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1957
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.21
Source: National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons
1958
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.62
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.89
24/7 Wall St.
Source: The Sporting News Archives / Wikimedia Commons
1959
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.64
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.03
Source: Alden Jewell / Wikimedia Commons
1960
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.62
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.77
Source: The U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia Commons
1961
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.61
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.63
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
1962
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.64
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.78
Source: Executive Office of the President of the United States / Wikimedia Commons
1963
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.63
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.63
Source: Harry Pot, / Wikimedia Commons
1964
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.61
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.40
Source: Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons
1965
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.64
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.57
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Source: Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons
1966
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.67
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.70
Source: JOHN LLOYD / Flickr
1967
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.68
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.56
Source: Ollie Atkins, White House photographer / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons
1968
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.70
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.55
24/7 Wall St.
Source: NASA / Wikimedia Commons
1969
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.78
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.80
Source: CBS Television / Wikimedia Commons
1970
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.81
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.72
Source: Leena A. Krohn / Wikimedia Commons
1971
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.85
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.73
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Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons
1972
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $0.92
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.06
Source: sterferg / Wikimedia Commons
1973
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.11
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.85
Source: ABC Television / Wikimedia Commons
1974
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.14
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.34
Source: O'Halloran, Thomas J. / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons
1975
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.15
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.87
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Source: White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library / Wikimedia Commons
1976
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.11
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.37
Source: Derzsi Elekes Andor / Wikimedia Commons
1977
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.11
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.01
Source: Steve Morgan / Wikimedia Commons
1978
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.36
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.72
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Frances M Ginter / Getty Images
1979
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.73
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.54
Source: Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo / Wikimedia Commons
1980
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.83
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.09
Source: White House Photographic Office / The National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons
1981
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.84
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.57
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
1982
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.87
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.32
Source: Wikimedia Commons
1983
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.84
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.07
Source: Marcin Wichary / Wikimedia Commons
1984
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.86
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.92
Source: Wikimedia Commons
1985
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.83
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.65
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Source: A1C Nancy Smelser / Wikimedia Commons
1986
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.84
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.60
Source: Virginia Tehan / Wikimedia Commons
1987
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $1.98
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.77
Source: National Park Service / Wikimedia Commons
1988
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.08
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.83
Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons
1989
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.22
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.91
Source: Andrew Thomas / Wikimedia Commons
1990
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.39
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.03
Source: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons
1991
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.46
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.96
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Source: Gary B. Edstrom / Wikimedia Commons
1992
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.46
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.81
Source: Official White House photograph / Wikimedia Commons
1993
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.55
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.84
Source: Andrea Booher / FEMA / Wikimedia Commons
1994
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.68
Source: NASA / Wikimedia Commons
1995
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.51
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.51
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1996
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.37
Source: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
1997
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.35
Source: Flickr user Kevin Jarrett / Wikimedia Commons
1998
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.27
Source: Grj23 / Wikimedia Commons
1999
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.59
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.26
Source: Rob Boudon / Wikimedia Commons
2000
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.75
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.39
Source: SFC Thomas R. Roberts / Wikimedia Commons
2001
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.98
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.62
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Source: Sergeant Joseph R. Chenelly, United States Marine Corps / Wikimedia Commons
2002
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $2.99
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.55
Source: National Archive Catalog / Wikimedia Commons
2003
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $3.26
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.85
Source: Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison Jr., U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons
2004
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $3.63
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.27
Source: Jocelyn Augustino / Wikimedia Commons
2005
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $3.73
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.23
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Source: Kjetil Ree / Wikimedia Commons
2006
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $3.76
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.11
Source: Ben Stanfield / Wikimedia Commons
2007
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $3.92
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.19
Source: CODEPINK Women For Peace / Wikimedia Commons
2008
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.10
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.23
Source: Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons
2009
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.06
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.19
Source: U.S. Coast Guard / Wikimedia Commons
2010
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.17
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.25
Source: David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons
2011
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.60
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.61
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Source: New Jersey National Guard / Wikimedia Commons
2012
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.89
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.84
Source: White House / Sonya Hebert / Wikimedia Commons
2013
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $4.99
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.87
Source: TechCrunch / Wikimedia Commons
2014
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.59
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.48
Source: Difference engine / Wikimedia Commons
2015
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.00
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.94
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Source: Krassotkin, Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons
2016
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.62
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.42
Source: Wikimedia Commons
2017
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.55
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.21
Source: Photo by Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
2018
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.63
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.15
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Source: United States House of Representatives or Office of the Speaker of the House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
2019
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $5.71
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.13
Source: Spencer Platt / Staff / Getty Images
2020
> Price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.27
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of sirloin steak: $6.64
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