10 Things You Could Buy for $1 in the ’90s

Remember when a dollar bill actually had some weight to it? The 1990s were pretty much the last hurrah for single-dollar spending power. However, inflation has turned that same bill into barely enough for a candy bar. Here are some unbelievable items that you could get for a dollar during the decade of dial-up internet and Blockbuster rentals.

A McDonald's Hamburger

Walking into some McDonald's with a dollar in 1990 meant you could walk out with a hamburger and a quarter in change. The price tag sat at 75 cents for part of the decade. But by 2000, inflation meant cheeseburgers cost 89 cents, and you still had enough left over for sales tax in most states.

One Gallon Of Gas

Gas prices spent almost the entire 1990s below two dollars per gallon. The lowest point was in February 1999 when a gallon cost just 96.2 cents. You could fill up your tank with $20 and have enough left for a burger and fries. Road trips felt more spontaneous back then, and the pump didn't feel like an enemy waiting to drain your checking account.

Four First-Class Stamps

The 1990s were a time when birthday cards went through the mail, and bills arrived in envelopes that you had to open and write checks for. First-class postage was 25 cents for a while, so four stamps cost exactly $1. That's four letters sent the old-school way. The modern contrast is brutal. A 1-ounce First-Class Mail Forever stamp costs 78 cents in 2026, so $1 covers one stamp and change.

Ten Ears of Corn

Corn on the cob is a summer staple. In 1999, ten ears of corn cost approximately 99 cents at the grocery store. You could feed a crowd at a cookout without maxing out your credit card. Sure, eating just one ear felt incomplete, which is why the ten-for-a-dollar deal made sense. Today, that same amount of corn costs around $5, and "farm fresh" varieties command premium prices.

A Pound of Apples

Fresh fruit didn't break the bank once upon a time. In 1990, the price sat at 72 cents. Two years later, the price was around 89 cents. Depending on the size, a pound was enough to bake a small pie, meaning three to five apples. The phrase "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" felt achievable until today, when a pound of organic Honeycrisp apples costs around $ 3.50.

A Dozen Eggs

Believe it or not, eggs weren't always a mini-luxury in the U.S. In the 1990s, a dozen hovered around that $1 zone. Eggs were the ultimate budget protein. Bodybuilders drank them raw like Rocky Balboa. Parents made French toast on Saturday mornings without checking their bank account first. Fast-forward, and egg prices have been on the rise. USDA data showed that the April 2025 average retail price was around $5.12 per dozen.

A Pound of Hot Dogs

Grabbing a one-pound package of Armour hot dogs used to mean spending 99 cents. That package held roughly eight to ten dogs, depending on the brand. Add another 99 cents, and you could pick up a pound of Farmland bacon to wrap around those dogs. Grocery store meat prices were reasonable back then. You didn't always need a coupon app or a loyalty card to afford protein.

A Two-Liter Bottle Of Coca-Cola

In 1993, a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola could cost about $1 in some U.S. stores, which is an absurd value when you realize how much soda that actually is. It also explains why sleepovers used to be sugar-powered festivals. Today, 2-liter bottles often cost several dollars depending on the store, location, and promotions. Today, the "$1 Coke" memory exists in the 'nostalgia museum', which houses floppy disks and other items.

Two Packs of Ramen Noodles

College students and broke twenty-somethings survived on ramen throughout this decade, and the math made sense. A pack used to cost around 25 cents at some grocery stores. Four quarters bought you eight meals if you stretched it. Top Ramen and Maruchan dominated the instant noodle market. Despite the sodium content, few cared, especially when rent was due, and payday was still a week away.

A Ballpoint Pen Ink Refill

This decade ran on handwriting. Homework, notes, forms, receipts, all of it needed ink. In 1995, a ballpoint pen ink refill could cost about $1, which made you feel strangely adult for not trashing the whole pen. People still tossed cheap pens, sure, but refills were a real thing. Today, you can still find refills, but many cost more than $1, and much of the writing has moved to screens anyway.