Library Guides: Prices and Wages by Decade: 1900-1909

Wages in the U.S., 1900-1909

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COST OF LIVING and CONSUMER EXPENDITURES
PRICES in FOREIGN COUNTRIES

WAGES -- GENERAL SOURCES (all occupations and worker types)

Weekly earnings of men, women and children in 1905
Table from the Census Bureau lists earnings categories and the % of workers that fell into each. At the bottom of page 11, it gives average earnings for men, women and children.
Wages for hundreds of different jobs in manufacturing industries, ca. 1900
The link above leads to the back-of-the-book index. Find the page number in the index, then scroll to that page. Source: Employees and Wages, 1900 Census of the United States Special Report, published 1903.
Union Scale of Wages and Hours of Labor, 1907-1912
Table II shows union scale of wages and hours of labor in each trade, by cities, for each year from 1907-1912. The table showing wages by occupation extends from page 68-121, so be sure to scroll forward or use the magnifying glass tool to find a particular word in the text. The tables showing wages for jobs by city starts on page 16, with Atlanta, GA.
Women and child labor wages in early 1900s
Child labor wage rates are cited extensively in this 19-volume report from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor. The title page of each volume will tell what the volume focuses on, for example, vol. 1 covers the cotton textile industry, vol. 7 examines the conditions under which children leave school to go to work, etc. See also the summary volume published in 1915.
Rates of wages and hours of labor in the United States and Europe, 1890-1903
Provides tables that compare wage rates in U.S., Great Britain, Germany, France and Belgium for specific occupations, including blacksmith, boiler makers, bricklayers, carpenters, compositors, hod carriers, iron molders, general laborers, machinists, house painters, plumbers, stone cutters, and stone masons. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 53, Volume IX, published July 1904.
African-Americans - Wages by occupation, 1890-1920
The book The Negro Wage Earner is not a government document but it cites government wage data. Use the table of contents to find the chapter on the type of job, then use the "Jump to..." box to quickly land on that page in the volume. Note that the U. S. Census report Negroes in the United States (1904) shows the most common occupations for Negroes in 1890 and 1900.
African-Americans - Wages by occupation in Columbia, MO, 1904
Tables show wages for males and females by occupation. Source: The Negroes of Columbia, Missouri a Missouri University thesis dated 1904.
Congressional salaries, 1789-present
Historical chart shows salaries of members of the U.S. Congress, along with dates of enactment and statutory authority for each pay increase.

WAGES by OCCUPATION / INDUSTRY

Building and construction wages by occupation, 1902-1910
Wages in 1902, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910 for bricklayers, stone masons, structural-iron setters, ornamental-iron setters, plasterers, tile setters, plumbers, steam fitters, gas fitters, carpenters, painters, stonecutters, electricians, sheet-metal workers, marble setters and cement finishers in each of 25 major American cities.
Clothing (men's) manufacturing - Wages, 1911 to 1924
Tells wages for the years 1911 to 1914, 1919, and 1922. The wage data for this bulletin are from establishments engaged in making men’s outer garments—coats, pants, vests, and over-coats—for the trade, or what is commonly known as men’s ready-made clothing. Special-order and merchant-tailor establishments are not included.
Cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1890-1912
These workers engaged in spinning, weaving, printing, dyeing and otherwise performing tasks for the manufacture of fabrics. Shows hourly wages and typical hours per week.
Cotton textile industry - Child labor wages by sex, 1907-1908
Source: Report on condition of woman and child wage earners in the United States, vol. 1.
Farm workers - Wages and income, 1909 to 1938
Farm wage rates are broken out by year and geographic location. Wages for farm workers are compared to that of factory workers. Article starts on page 59 of the BLS Monthly Labor Review, July 1939 issue.
Farm labor wages, 1866-1909
Browse this book's table of contents for wage rates for all states and the US as a whole, including some rates from prior to 1866.
Farm laborers, 1818-1948
Lists average monthly earnings with board, by geographic divisions. Data for years: 1818, 1826, 1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1909, 1919, 1929, 1940, 1948. Read the explanation and historical context for this table here.
Iron and steel industry workers, 1907-1924
Earnings per hour, customary hours of labor, and actual hours and earnings in one pay period in 1924 are presented in this report for wage earners in ten departments of the iron and steel industry in the United States. Summary figures for preceding years are also shown for each department.
Iron and steel industry -- Wages and hours, 1912
Wages and hours of labor for workers in the steel industry, broken up by location and occupation. Source: U. S. Congressional Serial Set Vol. No. 6096.
Lumber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1890 to 1912
Wages and hours of labor in lumber manufacturing for the years 1907 to 1912, including information from 1890 to 1912. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 129.
Lumber, millwork, and furniture industry wages - 1907 to 1913
Includes breakouts by state and occupation, including machine feeders for the planing mill, sawyers, edgers, trimmers, carriage men, etc.
Manufacturing industries, 1890-1906
In Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 71 , Volume XV, pages 1-174
Census of Manufactures: 1905 Earnings of Wage-Earners
A statement of the total amount paid in wages during the year and an estimate of the average number of wage-earners during the year.
Manufacturing industries - Wages and hours, 1890-1904
Source: Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, no. 59, Volume XI. Published July 1905.
Manufacturing industries - Wages and hours, 1890-1905
Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, No. 65, Volume XIII. Published July 1906.
Manufacturing industries - Wages and hours, 1890 to 1906
Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, No. 71, Volume XV. Published July 1907.
Manufacturing industries - Wages and hours, 1890-1907
Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, No. 77, Volume XVII. Published July 1908.
Military pay for enlisted men
Many military job titles are listed separately such as electrician, band leader, sergeant major, etc. Pay tables extend from pages 775-782.
Railway employee wages, 1896-1907
For each year from 1896-1907, this source lists average daily compensation in dollars for station agents, conductors, telegraph operators, enginemen, firemen, track men, switch tenders, crossing tenders, machinists, carpenters and more.
Railroad cars, building and repair - 1890 to 1912
Shows wages per hour and hours of work per week for the years 1907 to 1912, with breakouts by state. Includes a comparison from 1890 to 1912. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 137
Railroad cars, building and repair -- Wages, 1907 to 1913
Covers the rates of wages per hour in each year for the major occupations involved in the building and repairing of steam railroad cars. It also includes tables broken down by state.
Street Railways - Employee wages by town, 1905
Shows wages in cents per hour, the number of hours that employees would work in a day, and policies for sick leave and disability benefits. Source: 1905 Yearbook of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America, pages 7-23.
Teacher wages, monthly average, by state and gender - 1894-1902
Taken from the U.S. Commissioner of Education Report for 1902. Starting on page LXXXI, the average monthly wages of teachers in 1902 are listed.

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MU affiliates may access a clearer copy at U. S. Congressional Serial Set database

Missouri - Union wages, 1906
Table #2 shows hours and pay for unions. Arranged by town. Page backward to Table #1 to see the trade or occupation for each of these unions. For example you can see that musicians in Sedalia MO earned $1.00 per hour for a maximum 10-hour day of work.

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Covers all the different building trades, teamsters, barbers, bartenders, retail clerks, musicians, newsboys, waiters, hatters, horseshoers, theatrical employees, glass blowers, telegraphers, bakers, printers, brewery workers, photo engravers, miners, railway engineers, conductors, firemen and many more.
Missouri - Employee wages and business owner salaries, 1906
Over 500 pages of data! See pages 143-690, covers all sorts of manufacturing, publishing, tailoring and more. Broken out by demographics of worker, by county, by town, by industry and by occupation. Contact us if you need help zeroing in on what you want.

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Direct links to:
- Average monthly salary of managers, superintendents, salesmen, bookkeepers, clerks and stenographers by sex and by industry.
- Weekly earnings of men and women over 16, and children under 16 by county or for the following cities and towns: St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Joplin, St. Charles, Springfield, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Poplar Bluff, Sedalia, Independence, Carthage, Moberly, Cape Girardeau, Webb City, Nevada MO, Louisiana MO, Macon City, Mexico MO, Chillicothe
- Weekly earnings by county, industry, sex and age (over or under age 16)
Missouri - Mine workers daily wages, 1902
A 1902 day wage scale for mine work in Missouri can be found in the 16th Annual Report of the State Coal Mine Inspector. Establishes daily or hourly wages for sinkers, motormen and machine runners, track layers, timbermen, fire bosses, shot-firers, pushers, trip riders, cagers, water bailers, drivers, trappers, blacksmiths, topmen, and boys.
Farm labor wages in Missouri, 1866-1930
Shows average farm labor wage in Missouri with and without board, during harvest time or at other times. Source: Missouri State Dept of Agriculture.

California teacher salaries at elementary schools, 1907
Annual salary data is broken out by county.

Connecticut (New Haven) city employee salaries, 1873-1921
This series of Municipal Year Books from New Haven, Connecticut, show salaries for police, firemen, school teachers, principals, building inspectors, clerks and other jobs working for city government.

Hawaii - Wages and hours by occupation and employee nationality, 1905
Shows average pay by type of establishment, occupation and race/nationality. This source also provides microdata on each individual employee in Table I. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 66, Volume XIII. Published September 1906.

Montana - School teacher wages by gender, 1901
Teacher salaries by school district and by county are available in the Montana reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This link leads to the 1902 report showing 1901 data. For more years, go to the Internet Archive full listing for this series.

We have access to wage data for nearly every state. If you don't see what you need here, contact us! We will be happy to provide info upon request.

Wages in Foreign Countries, 1900-1909

Multiple countries
Australia
Austria
Canada
Germany
Spain
Philippines
United Kingdom

Wages in MULTIPLE COUNTRIES

Click the tabs above for single countries.

Wages around the world for common occupations, 1900-1907
Lists wages in dollars for many common occupations (blacksmiths, carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, machinists, book and newspaper printers, and postal employees) for selected cities in the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities, Vol. I, a publication of the U.S. Congress. See tables on pages 74-87.
European countries - Wages and prices, 1900 and 1910
Consular reports show wages and salaries by job title for countries including Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Belgium, Spain and more.

Wages in AUSTRALIA

Australia - Minimum Wage in New South Wales, 1908
Bulletin of the U.S. Bureau of Labor, No. 80, Volume XVIII. Published January 1909.

Wages in AUSTRIA

Austria - Wages and Hours, 1906 and 1907
Bulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 88, Volume XX. Published May 1910.

Wages in CANADA

Canada (Ottawa) - Wages, 1897 and 1907
Shows wages and hours for dozens of occupations, including job titles in the agriculture, building and timber industries; as well as bartenders, restaurant workers, domestic servants, policemen, bookbinders, and more. Source: U.S. Consular report titled Cost of Living in Canada.

Wages in GERMANY

Germany - Wages and hours of labor in woodworking industries, 1906
Shows hours, pay and average weekly earnings of carpenters, wheelwrights, toy makers, makers of musical instruments, wooden shoes, toys, and more. Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 88, published May 1910.
Germany - Wage trends, 1898 to 1907
Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, no. 88, published May 1910.

Wages in SPAIN, 1900s

Spain - Wages in 1827, 1868 and 1902
Tells wages in pesetas. Published in Great Britain by the Historical Section of the Foreign Office; see title page.

WAGES in the PHILIPPINES

Philippines - Prices of Commodities and Rates of Wages in Manila
Source: Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Labor, No. 32, Volume VI. Published January 1901.

WAGES in the UNITED KINGDOM

Great Britain - Government employees' salaries in 1900 and 1910
Tables span pages 1175-1179 in this source.
Great Britain - Building and Woodworking Trades, Earnings and Hours of Labor
Bulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 87, Volume XX. Published March 1910.
Great Britain - Clothing Industries, Earnings and Hours of Labor
Bulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 86, Volume XX. Published January 1910.
Great Britain - Textile Industries, Earnings and Hours of Labor
Bulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 83, Volume XIX. Published July 1909.
United Kingdom - Agricultural laborers' earnings, 1902-1903
Detailed look at wages and earnings for various types of agricultural work in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Some tables report wages back to the 1850s. Also shows rents for cottages. Source: UK government publication, Earnings of agricultural labourers / 2d report by Mr. Wilson Fox on the wages, earnings and conditions of employment of agricultural labourers.....
United Kingdom - Wages by occupation, 1893-1913
Wages reported in UK government documents.

Prices in the U.S., 1900-1909

PRICES for FOOD

Retail prices of food, nationwide average - 1901
Average nationwide price per pound, quart, dozen, etc. of each of the principle food items (meat, fish eggs, butter, cheese, coffee, tea, potatoes, etc.)
Retail food prices by type of food and state, 1900-1903
Detailed tables are listed by type of food and then by state. Average retail prices are reported for each year from 1890-1903. Scroll forward through the pages to see all the food types.
Retail prices of food by state, 1904-1905
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 65, Volume XIII. Published July 1906.
Retail prices of food by state, 1906-1907
Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 77, Volume XVII. Published July 1908.
Retail Prices of Food, 1901
Surveyed expenditures of 25,440 working families to determine their yearly cost of living. Shows prices not only for food but other items as well. Be careful to look for tables showing "average prices" rather than "relative prices" (which only indicate a percentage of increase or decrease.) Average expenditures for families are also presented with demographic breakouts.

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Taken from the 18th Annual Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Labor. Source: Serial Set Vol. No. 4739, Session Vol. No.113, 58th Congress, 2nd Session, H.Doc. 747
Average retail food prices reported annually from 1890-1970
This one-page table shows the average retail prices for bread, milk, eggs, meats, fruits, vegetables, coffee, beans, sugar, margarine, etc. each year from 1890-1970. Data collection took place in about 30-60 U.S. cities. Jump to page 193 of this resource for an excellent explanation of the historical table and the methodology of data collection.
Prices of Groceries in 1814 and 1905
Gives the price per pound of selected commodities in 1814 and 1905. Short list includes tea, coffee, sugar, figs, raisins, rice, mustard, saltpeter, treacle, etc.. Prices are given in both English and American currency.
Food prices in Hawaii, 1890-1910
The 4th Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor for Hawaii lists prices of food, average wages of Hawaiians, and consumer expenditure data. Published in 1910 by the U.S. GPO and included in the U.S. Congressional Serial Set (#5928)
Restaurant food and drink prices, 1900s
Site has over 7,000 scanned restaurant menus and banquet event listings from the 1900-1909 decade. Restaurant and hotel menus will list prices; banquet menus do not. This is not a government resource but it can be useful for spot-checking prices for specific food or beverages at restaurants.

PRICES of MERCHANDISE AND DRY GOODS

Macy's mail order catalog, 1908
Use the table of contents to find a page number for a desired item, then enter it in the "jump to" box. Or use the "Search in this text" box to find words anywhere in the catalog.
Macy's 1906 Christmas Gifts Catalog
Jewelry, watches, handkerchiefs, books, stationery, desk sets, sporting goods including guns, children's toys, dolls, dishes, tea sets, clocks, household linens, cigars, slippers, smoking jackets, walking canes, perfume, comb and brush sets, ladies handbags, wallets, gloves, razor sets, opera glasses, pocketknives, ladies collars, etc.
Women's and girl's clothing, mail order - 1908
"New York Fashions," the catalog of the National Cloak & Suit Company, shows ready-made clothing and made-to-order garments for women, girls and infants.
Prices of articles bought by farmers, 1909
Table 679 in this source tells how much U.S. farmers paid for farm tools, implements and supplies, work gloves, shirts and shoes, shotguns, tobacco, wagons, building materials such as nails and shingles, and household items such as dishes and fruit jars, washtubs and buckets. US Dept of Agriculture Yearbook gives price data for 1909, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922.
Investigation Relative to Wages and Prices of Commodities
Compares data for 1900 and 1910. Prices of common items such as workmans' boots, shoes, suits of clothing, coffee, and retail price of meat by the pound. Prices of more significant purchases such as agricultural implements are included. Compares to prices in London.
Prices of wagons, farm implements, machinery and hand tools, 1860-1900
Shows prices of carriages, buggies, surreys, farm implements such as plows and cultivators, carts, engines, tools, equipment and supplies for 1860, 1880, 1890, 1895 and 1900. Provides breakdowns by item category and type. Tables extend from page 14-28 in this source.

PRICES for HOUSING, REAL ESTATE and BUILDING MATERIALS

Housing and rents - Selected eastern U.S. cities, 1909
Data collected by the British Board of Trade and reported in a U.S. Department of Labor report. Compares rents in 28 large eastern U.S. cities to that of England and Wales.
Sears home plans with costs of materials, 1908-1939
The Sears Archive site has digitized some pages from their home plan catalogs. Selected entries in their list are clickable. Shows drawing of the home, floor plan, and for some of the home plans, estimated cost of labor for construction.
Home plan catalog with costs to build (Hodgson's), 1905
Hodgson's Modern House Building book shows a variety of houses with floor plans. The approximate cost to build each home is in the "index" in the front of the catalog, with an explanation that they based labor estimates on wages paid in the Chicago area.
Home plans with estimated costs to build, 1904
Source: Hodgeson's Low Cost American Homes, with labor costs based on the Chicago market.
Luxury home plan catalog with estimated costs to build - 1901
This catalog shows floor plans for mostly upper class homes, depictions of completed homes, and the estimated cost to have the homes built. Some modest homes can be found near the end, such as this one story colonial cottage for $2000-2200. The cost of the plans themselves are also included. This is not a government document.
Bathroom and kitchen fixtures - Price catalog, 1905
Commercial catalog shows prices and images for a range of bathroom sinks (lavatories), tubs, toilets, kitchen sinks and other fixtures, cast iron radiators and more. Some fixtures are intended for public buildings rather than private homes. Source: Nelson blue book on sanitary plumbing appliances.
Oklahoma - Price of farm land, 1902
Shows price of farm land by county, by the acre. Source: U.S. Department of the Interior report.
Price of land in Missouri - 1903
The book "State of Missouri: An Autobiography" published in 1904 by the State Historical Society describes each county in short chapters, and each of these has a section heading "Land" in which the average price per acre is given, or a typical price one might expect to pay for land that has certain amenities or in advantageous locations. Counties are listed in alphabetical order; use the "Search in this text" box to jump quickly to a certain county.
Farms for sale or rent in New York state, 1906
Book does not list averages, instead lists farms and farmhouses for sale along with amenities and asking price.
Prices for building materials in Hawaii, 1898-1910
Prices for red brick from California, window glass, nails and lumber (fir).
Price of lumber by wood type, 1899-1935
Tells average annual mill value per 1,000 board feet for 17 kinds of hardwood including oak, elm, hickory, walnut, maple, ash, sycamore, yellow poplar, etc.; and 14 kinds of softwood including redwood, spruce, cedar and several firs and pines. Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1937 edition, table #688.

PRICES for SERVICES

Cost to mail a letter or postcard, 1863-present
Source: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.
Telephone service rates in selected cities, 1900-1908
This data can be gleaned from articles in the American Telephone Journal (not a government document). Examples: Philadelphia 1900 and 1903, San Francisco, Kansas City, Chicago and Los Angeles 1908, Boston 1908, and Michigan, 1908.
Monthly rates for use of telephones in Missouri in 1908
Table shows monthly telephone rates for residences, businesses, and party lines by city and county. Source: Missouri Red Book, 1909.
Price of a newspaper subscription, 1869-1920
Look up by year, then state, then city, then title to find the cost of a newspaper subscription. Source: Rowell's & Ayer's American newspaper directories.

PRICES for TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION

Railway passenger fare, 1894-1918
Railway ticket prices were calculated on a formula of cents per mile, and from the time period 1894 until World War I they remained fairly constant at 2 cents per mile. See railroad passenger fare overview from 1890s-early 1930s in the section titled "Carrier Price," in the U.S. document "Passenger Traffic Report" on pages 38-39.
Passenger train fare in the U.S., 1871-1933
Average railroad passenger fare (ticket price) expressed in cents per mile.
Price of gasoline - 1900
In congressional testimony dated 1900, one witness reported that gasoline cost "7 or 9 cents a gallon."...also....In the July 19, 1899 issue of Horseless Age there is an ad for the Locomobile Company of America. The tenth in a list of points reads "The fuel is available in almost any town at 7 cents a gallon."

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Side note: Inventor Hiram Percy Maxim wrote in the preface to his memoir Horseless Carriage Days (not available online) that between 1893-1901, gasoline was typically purchased from paint shops or drug stores.
Price to take a ferry - 1907, St. Louis
Municipalities could set prices of some services. For example, the fee schedule to take a ferry across the river at St. Louis is detailed in the 1907 city ordinances. Search for ordinances or "revised code" for the big city of your choice in Hathi Trust, then search in the text for keywords "rates" and "cents" or "dollars."
Hotel rates - U.S. and Canada - 1900s
In each issue of Hotel Monthly, there is a hotel directory for the U.S. and Canada; find it in the table of contents on the front cover of each issue and then type the page number in the "Jump to page..." box. The directories list hotels by state and then by city, and tell the daily rates for each. For example, see the hotel directory published in the January 1904 edition, which would likely have had rates current for 1903. See also the New York Public Library site for hotel restaurant prices.
Theater and opera ticket prices, 1897-1909
Julius Cahn's official theatrical guide was a directory of all major theaters and opera houses in the U.S. It lists the range of ticket prices for each theater and shows rates for nearby hotels as well.

COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION

Cost to study agriculture in state colleges, 1910
Table shows all the state colleges offering coursework in agriculture in the U.S., along with tuition and the amount students might expect to pay for room, board and other fees.

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Source: "Undergraduate or collegiate courses in agriculture in the State Colleges of Agriculture in the United States," Supplement to Bulletin of the U.S. Bureau of Education, 1911, no.2, pages 5-7, by A.C. Monahan.
University tuition and fees, 1912-1913
Includes state universities and those which received some state funding. Tuition and fees for each university are listed on pages 22-26.
Tuition, fees and other costs for foreign students to attend American universities, 1909
This source shows survey answers from about 100 American colleges and universities telling how much Chinese students might expect to pay for a college education in the U.S. Note particularly the answer to question #5 from each institution, which asked the approximate annual tuition and living expenses.. Source: "Admission of Chinese Students to American Colleges." U.S. Bureau of Education Bulletin 1909, no.2 (whole number 399) by John Fryer.

Cost of Living and Consumer Expenditures, 1900-1909

Average annual food cost for a family
In an article titled "Retail Prices of Food," page 191 shows a list of average costs per workingman's family for each year from 1890-1906, broken out by U.S. region. See average family demographics (i. e. family size) on page 194.
Relative retail prices of food, 1890-1906
Tells how much families were spending on food in general but does not tell the actual prices of foods. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 71, pages 175-328.
Average annual expenditures by type
Shows what "workingman's families" would spend annually on rent, mortgage, fuel, lighting, clothing for husband, wife and children, taxes, insurance, religious donations, charity, furniture and utensils, books and newspapers, amusements and vacations, intoxicating liquors, tobacco, sickness and death expenses, and other categories. These are nationwide averages for the year 1901 only.
Cost-of-Living and Retail Prices in the United States, 1890 to 1903
Shows no actual retail prices but does show price increases and decreases over time. Also shows how much families were actually spending on various items over the course of a year.

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Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 54, Volume IX, by G. W. W. Hanger. Published September 1904.
Cost of living (1903)
Lists the average cost of living of working families, geographic breakdown and shows average earnings by region. Including expenses overall and average expenditures on food.
The Cost of Living
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 66, Volume XIII. Published September 1906.
Wages and Cost of Living
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 53, Volume IX. Published July 1904.
Characteristics of families living in poverty
The purpose of this report was to explore the living conditions of people who were seeking assistance due to poverty. It does not report average wages among the poor but it does indicate the income of people who were seeking help. In addition, it explains some of the background reasons for poverty and barriers that prevented workers from overcoming it. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 79, vol. 17, published Nov 1908.
College girls' clothing budget, 1905
Discusses the basic clothing articles a young woman would need if attending Chicago University or Smith College in 1905. Scroll back in this source to find additional clothing budgets, along with a discussion of what clothing types were required to be socially acceptable. This source was copyrighted in 1905.

Prices in Foreign Countries, 1900-1909

Multiple countries
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
France
Germany
Great Britain
India
Ireland
Italy
Philippines

Sources showing prices in MULTIPLE COUNTRIES, 1900s

Click the tabs above for single countries.

Retail food prices around the world, 1900 and 1910
All prices listed in dollars. Tables on pages 43-52 list the retail prices of flour, butter, bacon, beef, mutton, ham, sugar and coffee in selected cities in the U.S., Austria, Canada, Nova Scotia, England, Germany, France, Russia, Bulgaria, Japan, Mexico
Wages and Prices Abroad, 1900 and 1910
Reports from consular offices show wholesale and retail prices for a variety of foods, clothing, agricultural products such as wool and hides and more in Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Belgium, Spain and more. Also discusses the the cost to rent in various countries.
Europe - Prices and Cost of Living
Covers England and Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, and the United States. Some data collected by the British Board of Trade Report. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 93.
Prices paid by the U.S. Navy in foreign ports, 1900-1909
Statement showing the prices paid by vessels of the United States Navy for fresh beef, fresh vegetables, fresh bread, flour, sugar, butter, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, rice, beans, dry fruit, tinned fruit, salt pork, salt beef, tinned meats, smoked ham, coffee, tea, vinegar, molasses, fresh mutton, lard, macaroni, cheese, condensed milk, fowl, veal, pork, and eggs for the years 1900 to 1909, inclusive. Table runs from page 1522-1537. Click "more" to see list of ports included...

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Lists prices paid at ports in Barbados, Haiti, Nicaragua, Jamaica, St. Thomas, Bermuda, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, Buenos Aires Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Rio de Janeiro, Chile, Gilbraltar, Algiers, Port Said, Alexandria, Singapore, Lisbon Portugal, Genoa, Funchal, Suez, Naples Italy, Colombo, Sidney Australia, Marseille, Nice, Villefranche, Cherbourg, Antwerp, Kiel, Gravesend, Southampton, Plymouth, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Christiana, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chefoo, Vladivostock, Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe, Honolulu, Beirut, Tutuila, Guantanomo, Panama, Santo Domingo, Cape Town South Africa, Chemulp, Korea, Woosung China, Melbourne, La Union Salvador, Honduras

Prices in AUSTRALIA, 1900s

Australia - "Household Budgets Abroad"
Chapter describes consumer expenditures for Australian families. See pages 631-653 in Cornhill Magazine July-December 1904 issue. This is not a government document.

Prices in AUSTRIA, 1900s

Austria - Retail food prices, 1900-1908
Tables on pages 2216-2228 show retail food prices in Austria as well as Germany and the U.S. Includes price of eggs, bread, coffee, butter and more.

Prices in BELGIUM, 1900s

Belgium - Cost of living of the working classes
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 87.
Belgium - Cost of living in Belgian towns, 1908
Covers food prices, rent, household budget and wages. Use the table of contents to find pages with data.

Prices in CANADA, 1900s

Canada - "Household Budgets Abroad"
Chapter describes the consumer expenditures of Canadian families. See pages 806-821 of Cornhill Magazine, July-December 1904 issue. This is not a government document.

Prices in FRANCE, 1900s

France - Cost of living of the working classes
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 83, published July 1909.
France - Cost of living in French towns, 1905
Covers food prices, rent, household budgets and wages. Published 1909 in London. Use table of contents to find pages with data.
France - "Household Budgets Abroad"
Shows amount a French family might pay for rent, food, taxes, servants, school tuition for children, clothing, and household fuel. Wages for various occupations are also discussed. See pages 336-348 of the July-Dec 1904 issue of Cornhill Magazine, published in London for an English audience. This is not a government document.

Prices in GERMANY, 1900s

Germany - "Household Budgets Abroad"
This article was published in the July-December 1904 issue of Cornhill Magazine (published in London), pages 87-101. Provides information on prices, wages, common expenditures by the German family and how their money was typically budgeted. This is not a government document.
Germany - Cost of living of families of moderate income, 1907-1908
This extensive and very detailed article is nearly 100 pages in length, running from page 697-793. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 88, published May 1910.
Germany - Cost of living of the working class
Extensive discussion and data on the cost of rent, broken out by 33 German towns. Also shows retail prices for various foods and average consumption by workingmen's families. Wages and hours are listed as well. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 78, published September 1908.
Germany - Cost of living in German towns, 1905
Covers prices rents, household budgets and wages. Use the table of contents to find pages with data.
Germany - Retail food prices, 1900-1908
Tables on pages 2216-2228 show retail food prices in Germany as well as Austria-Hungary and the U.S. Includes price of eggs, bread, coffee, butter and more.

Prices in GREAT BRITAIN, 1900s

Great Britain - Cost of living of the working classes
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 77, Volume XVII. Published July 1908.
England and Wales, cost of living compared to the U.S. - 1909
Publication from the British Board of Trade compares the cost of living in 28 large U.S. cities to that of England and Wales. Note: includes selected cities no further west than St. Louis or Minneapolis. Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 93, vol. 22. Published March 1911.

Prices in INDIA, 1900s

India - Retail prices for food grains and salt, 1892-1916
Use Table of Contents to find start page. For example the salt prices begin on page 140. Source: Prices and Wages in India, published by the India government, Department of Statistics, 1918.

Prices in IRELAND, 1900s

Ireland - Prices, 1900 and 1910
U.S. congressional document shows the price of foods such as potatoes, oatmeal, flour, mutton, butter, cheese, eggs, ham and beef, as well as "a suit of woolen clothing" and boots/shoes; coal, fuel oil, and farming implements such as plows, binders and two-horse mowers.

Prices in ITALY, 1900s

Italy - "Household Budgets Abroad"
Chapter describes consumer expenditures for Italian families and how they typically budgeted their money for food, rent, clothing, taxes, servants, education, etc. See pages 467-480 in the July-Dec. issue of Cornhill Magazine (not a government document.)
Italy - Prices of Wheat, Bread, Etc. in Milan, Italy, 1801 to 1908
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 87, Volume XX. Published March 1910.

Prices in the PHILIPPINES, 1900s

Philippines - Prices of Commodities and Rates of Wages in Manila
Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 32, Volume VI. Published January 1901.