I'm trying to do a bit of research on the cost of things in 1877. I'm really only able to find things like "$1 in 1877 is worth...in 2022" and a Macy's catalog.
Specifically I'm wondering about the shadier history such as:
How much morphine or laudinum would cost (and for what dosages.
How much would it cost to stay in a saloon or hotel per night?
How much the "Painted Women" of the west charged?
How much did Saloon girls make?
How much did the Snake Oil salesmen sell their "miracle" cures for?
And any other obscure products or services one may have found during that time.
Thanks for any help :)
A quick explanation as to why I'm not answering this question (and why you're not likely to receive any answers).
The West is the largest region of North America; it includes a remarkable diversity of places. Your question is the counterpart of asking about prices in Europe in 1977. It would take a sizeable article to answer any one of your questions when attempting to compare London, Paris, Madrid, Oslo, Rome, and Moscow – let alone everywhere in between.
Then there is the question of relative qualities. Saloons, hotels, sex workers, cures, and “any other obscure products or services” could vary in price significantly in a single community depending on the quality of the product. Compound this geographically, and the issue is maddeningly complex.
It would take a sizeable book – and corresponding research – to address your questions.