How much was a pint of milk when you were 18? See how much basic living costs have changed since you were a student, with our interactive calculator.
Life is pricey these days, but roughly how much more expensive is it to be a student today in comparison to when you were 18? Use the ‘choose a decade’ tab below to select the era in which you were 18 and then compare some of the key living costs for your son or daughter today. Then, click through to read some essential guides for everything you – and they – need to know about the next big step.
How much was a gallon of petrol?
What was the average UK house price?
How much were UK tuition fees?
What was the average cost of a pint of beer?
How much was a loaf of bread?
How much was a pint of milk?
What was the average worth of an 18-year old's technology?
What was the price of a first class stamp?
What was the average price of a mobile phone handset?
26p
(leaded)
$3,660
$0
Fees were paid by Local Education Authorities
11p
3p
$24.50
(record player)
3p
How much was a gallon of petrol?
26p (leaded)
$6 (unleaded)
What was the average UK house price?
How much were UK tuition fees?
$0 Fees were paid by Local Education Authorities
$9,000
(free in Scotland)
What was the average cost of a pint of beer?
How much was a loaf of bread?
How much was a pint of milk?
What was the average worth of an 18-year old's technology?
$24.50 (record player)
$2,266 (laptop, smartphone, camera, MP3 player, tablet...)
What was the price of a first class stamp?
3p
60p but emails are free
What was the average price of a mobile phone handset?
73p
(leaded)
$11,787
$0
Fees were paid by Local Education Authorities
20p
9p
6p
$25.95
(record player)
7p
How much was a gallon of petrol?
73p (leaded)
$6 (unleaded)
What was the average UK house price?
How much were UK tuition fees?
$0 Fees were paid by Local Education Authorities
$9,000
(free in Scotland)
What was the average cost of a pint of beer?
How much was a loaf of bread?
How much was a pint of milk?
What was the average worth of an 18-year old's technology?
$25.95 (record player)
$2,266 (laptop, smartphone, camera, MP3 player, tablet...)
What was the price of a first class stamp?
7p
60p but emails are free
What was the average price of a mobile phone handset?
$31,103
$0
Fees were paid by Local Education Authorities
35p
33p
17p
$64.99
(cassette and
radio player)
17p
$3,000 when they were introduced in 1985
How much was a gallon of petrol?
$1.99 (leaded)
$6 (unleaded)
What was the average UK house price?
How much were UK tuition fees?
$0 Fees were paid by Local Education Authorities
$9,000
(free in Scotland)
What was the average cost of a pint of beer?
How much was a loaf of bread?
How much was a pint of milk?
What was the average worth of an 18-year old's technology?
$64.99 (cassette and radio player)
$2,266 (laptop, smartphone, camera, MP3 player, tablet...)
What was the price of a first class stamp?
17p
60p but emails are free
What was the average price of a mobile phone handset?
$3,000 when they were introduced in 1985
$529
$65,644
$1,000
Per year in United States, Northern Ireland and Hong Kong (from 1998)
$1.40
31p
$259
(CD discman,
stereo)
$999
How much was a gallon of petrol?
$2.46 (unleaded)
$6 (unleaded)
What was the average UK house price?
How much were UK tuition fees?
$1,000Per year in United States, Northern Ireland and Hong Kong (from 1998)
$9,000
(free in Scotland)
What was the average cost of a pint of beer?
How much was a loaf of bread?
How much was a pint of milk?
What was the average worth of an 18-year old's technology?
$259 (CD discman, stereo)
$2,266 (laptop, smartphone, camera, MP3 player, tablet...)
What was the price of a first class stamp?
25p
60p but emails are free
What was the average price of a mobile phone handset?
$6
(unleaded)
$9,000 (free in Scotland)
$3.O3
$1.24
49p
$2,266 (laptop, smartphone, camera, MP3 player, tablet...)
60p but emails are free
$529
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This Money Matters post aims to be informative and engaging. Though it may include tips and information,
it does not constitute advice and should not be used as a basis for any financial decisions. Sun Trust Group
accepts no responsibility for the opinions and views of external contributors and the content of external
websites included within this post. Some links may take you to another Sun Trust Group page. All information
in this post was correct at date of publication.