We know that being alive is expensive, but when it comes to the cost of a night out on the town, prices have never been as sky-high. And when you compare how much people spent on entertainment in the 1970s versus 2025, it’s clear how much inflation has made it harder to enjoy, say, a nice meal and a concert.
Want to relive the prices of yore while also shuddering at what things cost now? Here’s what a night out in the ‘70s looked like versus today.
Dinner: Fancy
In the 1970s, you would probably spend between $20 and $40 for a nice dinner for two. Sizzler was even popping off for about $4 per combo plate. At The Keg, a Canadian chain steakhouse with locations in the U.S., sirloins alone have gone from under $5 to over $30.
Today, any nice steakhouse is going to be one of the priciest restaurants in the city. Steaks for two rarely cost under $100, and that’s before you include sides, drinks, or a tip. The affordable steakhouse dinner doesn’t really exist anymore.
Dinner: Cheap
Cheap dinner still exists depending on where you live, but it’s not like it was in the ‘70s. Things like fried chicken and spaghetti were reliable dinners for the frugal around then, and you could often get dinner for two for around $10.
Fast-food restaurant prices have drastically risen, but it’s still not hard to find a taco truck that will fill you up for under $10.
Concerts
Today, we live in a world where people post up to buy tickets and then sell them on StubHub for thousands.
In the ‘70s? You could see the biggest acts alive for under $10.
Dancing
Disco was obviously immensely popular in the 1970s, which meant that dancing was always on the evening’s menu. Some people recall the famous Studio 54 charging only $10 for admission, whereas today you’ll see far higher prices for popular clubs. In a major city, it’s not unheard of to pay $30 to $50 for entry to a buzzy club (and that’s not including Las Vegas, where over $100 per person is common).
The Movies
This one hurts to think about. In the ‘70s, tickets ranged from around $1.50 to $2.50. Today, a standard movie at a major chain theater is usually $20, and that’s before you’ve factored in any sort of snacks, 3-D, Dolby Digital Sound, or any of the auditorium upgrades available these days.
If you’re a fan of going to a movie theater today, your best bet is to pick up a subscription (if your theater offers it). If you see even one movie per month, it’s usually worth it.
Cocktails
Fifty years ago, you might have paid up to $3 for a particularly fancy cocktail. Some say well drinks were usually under a buck, too.
Today, $3 probably won’t even cover the tip for an expensive cocktail bar, and well drinks under $10 are a rarity.
Comedy Clubs
A night at a comedy club isn’t cheap these days, with cover charges and a two-drink minimum. Tickets going up to $100 isn’t unheard of. Drinks at the club can cost anywhere from $10 to $18.
In the 1970s, you were looking at $2 to $5 for admission, plus another $3 to $6 for your two drinks. Best of all, people like Joe Rogan didn’t exist yet. Truly priceless.
