Value of $1 from 1981 to today
$1 in 1981 is worth
$3.69 in August 2026
Prices are 269% higher, an average of 2.93% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.27 bought in 1981.
Inflation in 1981
10.3%
Average CPI in 1981
90.9
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1980s
5.5%
1981 dollars in today's money
| In 1981 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $3.69 |
| $5 | $18.43 |
| $10 | $36.85 |
| $20 | $73.70 |
| $50 | $184.26 |
| $100 | $368.51 |
| $500 | $1,842.57 |
| $1,000 | $3,685.15 |
| $5,000 | $18,425.74 |
| $10,000 | $36,851.49 |
| $20,000 | $73,702.97 |
| $50,000 | $184,257 |
| $100,000 | $368,515 |
| $1 million | $3,685,149 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1981 grew
Which prices rose most since 1981
Overall prices rose 269% since 1981. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1981 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +2,171% | 7.2% |
| College tuition | +1,141% | 5.7% |
| Car insurance | +887% | 5.2% |
| Water and sewer | +824% | 5.1% |
| Dental care | +659% | 4.6% |
| Medical care | +615% | 4.5% |
| Prescription drugs | +581% | 4.3% |
| Beef | +423% | 3.7% |
| Bananas | +123% | 1.8% |
| New cars | +91% | 1.4% |
| Wine | +86% | 1.4% |
| Shoes | +57% | 1.0% |
| Clothing | +43% | 0.8% |
| Furniture | +42% | 0.8% |
| Toys | -69% | -2.6% |
| Televisions | -99% | -9.8% |
Year by year since 1981
| Year | $1 from 1981 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $1.00 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $1.06 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $1.10 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $1.14 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $1.18 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $1.21 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $1.25 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $1.30 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $1.36 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $1.44 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $1.50 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $1.54 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $1.59 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $1.63 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $1.68 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $1.73 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $1.77 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $1.79 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $1.83 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $1.89 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $1.95 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $1.98 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $2.02 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $2.08 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $2.15 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $2.22 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $2.28 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $2.37 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $2.36 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $2.40 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $2.47 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $2.53 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $2.56 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $2.60 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $2.61 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $2.64 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $2.70 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $2.76 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $2.81 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $2.85 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $2.98 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $3.22 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $3.35 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $3.45 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $3.54 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $3.69 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1981 worth today?
- $1 in 1981 has the same buying power as $3.69 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1981?
- Prices rose 10.3% in 1981, comparing the average CPI for 1981 with 1980.
- How much have prices gone up since 1981?
- Prices are 269% higher than in 1981, an average of 2.93% a year.
- What is $100 from 1981 worth today?
- $368.51. $1,000 from 1981 is worth $3,685.15.