Everyday costs
What groceries, gas and electricity cost right now, from the agencies that measure them, and what that means for running your home and your car.
Grocery prices
The Bureau of Labor Statistics records the average price of everyday foods in US cities every month. In September 2026, a dozen eggs averaged $2.27, a gallon of whole milk $4.11, a pound of ground beef $6.79 and a pound of white bread $1.83. Each of the 24 items has its own page with a price chart going back decades, prices by year and what past prices are worth in today's dollars.
Gas prices
Weekly average prices for regular gasoline from the Energy Information Administration, for the US, its regions, nine states and ten cities. Regular averaged $4.28 a gallon in the week of October 19, 2026. The gas cost calculator works out a trip or a monthly commute.
Electricity rates and bills
Homes paid an average of 18.31¢ per kilowatt-hour in July 2026, and the average residential bill was $142.26 a month in 2024 for 863 kWh. Rates differ more than threefold between states, so every state has a page with its average bill, its rate and how it compares with its neighbors.
Appliance running costs
What a fridge, dryer, window AC unit or dehumidifier costs to run depends on how much power it uses and what you pay for it. A typical new ENERGY STAR refrigerator costs about $102 a year to run at the US average rate, and a typical window air conditioner about $92. Pick your state on each page, or enter any appliance's watts in the calculator.
Car fuel costs
EPA fuel economy ratings for 2026–2027 models, priced at this week's gas price or your state's electricity rate. Rankings show which cars, SUVs, trucks and minivans get the best gas mileage and what they cost to fuel for 15,000 miles a year, and what it costs to charge an electric car at home.
Where these numbers come from
Every price here is from a US government source: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (grocery prices), the Energy Information Administration (gas and electricity), the EPA's ENERGY STAR program (appliance energy use) and fueleconomy.gov (vehicle ratings). Costs we calculate from them are marked as estimates. See the methodology and data sources.