Editor's Note: This translated article compares prices in China today with prices back in the late 1960s. The author concludes not only were items much cheaper back in the day, Chinese also had more purchasing power. The author calculates that a 36 Yuan per month salary in 1960 is equivalent to over 10,000 Yuan today. However, the author calculates these facts without taking into account how much a number of necessities, including rent, cost in the 1960s.

Those born in the 1960s and earlier in China may remember how different prices were back in the day. Popsicles, pancakes, and fried dough sticks all cost 3 Fen. Yes, Fen, not Mao. 3 Fen is equal to .3 Mao or .03 Yuan. Another crazy example- first grade school fees for one semester cost 8 Mao.

What could you buy with 10 Yuan in the 1960s, and what can you buy with 10 Yuan today? Check out these price comparisons:

1) Bags of Rice

In the late 1960s, 10 Yuan got you 40 kg of rice. In 2015, you can buy about 1.75 kg. 

2) Crabs

In the 1960s, seafood lovers could purchase 6 kg of crabs for 10 Yuan. Now, you can get six crab legs (of the same quality) for 10 Yuan.

3) Buying Fish

In the 1960s, you could get 15 kg worth of large yellow croaker for 10 Yuan. Now you can buy some fish scales. Tempting….

4) Cloth and Clothing

10 Yuan would get you 3.3 m and change when purchasing cloth by the yard in the late 1960s.

Now, 10 Yuan will get you about one-third of a meter. At least you can make some underwear, or a sock!

5) Veggie Delight

In the late 1960s, you could buy a whopping 250 kg of vegetables for 10 Yuan. Now you can buy about 2 kg.

6) Beef Noodles

In the late 1960s, you could buy 50 bowls of beef noodles for 10 Yuan. Now you can get one, if you're lucky!

7) Primary School Fees

In the late 1960s, primary school fees cost a total of 6 Yuan. Now, you can buy a cheap pencil case for the same price.

8) Movie Tickets

In the late 1960s, you could take 200 students to see a movie for 10 Yuan. Now, you can't even get one ticket. Maybe you can just listen at the theatre door? You can't afford anything else…

9) New Shoes

These nice new shoes cost 7.68 Yuan in the late 1960s. Now, you can buy this nice pair of shoe laces for the same price.

10) Popsicle Time

You could buy 250 Popsicles for 10 Yuan in the late 1960s. Now you can buy five.

11) White Rabbit Candy

10 Yuan got you two kg of White Rabbit candy back in the day. Now you can buy about eight candies.

Purchasing Power

Average salary in the late 1960s was about 36 Yuan, and a student priced movie ticket was about 5 Fen. Now, the lowest priced student movie ticket is about 30 Yuan, 600 times the price of a ticket in the late 1960s. Using this price analogy, one would need to make 21,600 Yuan per month to have the same purchasing power as one who made 36 Yuan in the late 1960s.

Let's say you wanted to be fancy: the most expensive adult priced movie ticket in the late 1960s cost about 2 Mao. Now, mid-priced movie tickets are about 60 Yuan each, 300 times more than in the late 1960s. Using this analogy, one would have to make at least 10,800 Yuan per month to have the same purchasing power as a person who made 36 Yuan.

Source: Wenxue City

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Keywords: China in the 1960s 10 Yuan in the 1960s