Value of $1 from 1959 to today
$1 in 1959 is worth
$11.51 in August 2026
Prices are 1,051% higher, an average of 3.71% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.09 bought in 1959.
Inflation in 1959
0.7%
Average CPI in 1959
29.1
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1950s
2.0%
1959 dollars in today's money
| In 1959 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $11.51 |
| $5 | $57.56 |
| $10 | $115.11 |
| $20 | $230.23 |
| $50 | $575.57 |
| $100 | $1,151.13 |
| $500 | $5,755.67 |
| $1,000 | $11,511.34 |
| $5,000 | $57,556.70 |
| $10,000 | $115,113 |
| $20,000 | $230,227 |
| $50,000 | $575,567 |
| $100,000 | $1,151,134 |
| $1 million | $11,511,340 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1959 grew
Which prices rose most since 1959
Overall prices rose 1,051% since 1959. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1959 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +6,083% | 6.3% |
| Car insurance | +3,279% | 5.4% |
| Water and sewer | +3,228% | 5.4% |
| Medical care | +2,658% | 5.1% |
| Dental care | +2,388% | 4.9% |
| Doctor visits | +1,963% | 4.6% |
| Postage | +1,845% | 4.5% |
| Potatoes | +1,764% | 4.5% |
| Chicken and poultry | +511% | 2.7% |
| Bananas | +438% | 2.5% |
| Eggs | +404% | 2.4% |
| Shoes | +283% | 2.0% |
| New cars | +244% | 1.9% |
| Furniture | +218% | 1.7% |
| Clothing | +204% | 1.7% |
| Televisions | -99% | -7.0% |
Year by year since 1959
| Year | $1 from 1959 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | $1.00 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $1.02 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $1.03 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $1.04 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $1.05 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $1.07 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $1.08 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $1.11 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $1.15 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $1.20 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $1.26 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $1.33 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $1.39 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $1.44 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $1.53 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $1.69 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $1.85 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $1.96 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $2.08 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $2.24 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $2.49 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $2.83 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $3.12 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $3.32 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $3.42 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $3.57 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $3.70 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $3.77 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $3.90 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $4.07 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $4.26 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $4.49 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $4.68 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $4.82 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $4.97 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $5.09 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $5.24 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $5.39 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $5.52 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $5.60 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $5.73 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $5.92 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $6.09 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $6.18 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $6.32 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $6.49 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $6.71 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $6.93 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $7.13 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $7.40 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $7.37 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $7.49 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $7.73 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $7.89 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $8.01 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $8.14 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $8.14 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $8.25 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $8.42 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $8.63 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $8.79 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $8.89 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $9.31 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $10.06 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $10.47 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $10.78 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $11.06 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $11.51 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1959 worth today?
- $1 in 1959 has the same buying power as $11.51 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1959?
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1959, comparing the average CPI for 1959 with 1958.
- How much have prices gone up since 1959?
- Prices are 1,051% higher than in 1959, an average of 3.71% a year.
- What is $100 from 1959 worth today?
- $1,151.13. $1,000 from 1959 is worth $11,511.34.