$1 in 1982 is worth $3.47 today

$1 in 1982 has the same buying power as

$3.47 in August 2026

That is 247% more, an average inflation rate of 2.86% a year over 44 years.

Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.29 bought in 1982. Cash kept under the mattress since 1982 has lost 71% of its value.

$1 from nearby years

$1 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1977$5.536.5%
1978$5.147.6%
1979$4.6111.3%
1980$4.0713.5%
1981$3.6910.3%
1982$3.476.2%
1983$3.363.2%
1984$3.224.3%
1985$3.113.6%
1986$3.061.9%
1987$2.953.6%

How $1 from 1982 grew

$0.00$0.50$1.00$1.50$2.00$2.50$3.00$3.5019902000201020202026.625: $3.47
$1 from 1982 in each later year's dollars

$1 of 1982 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1982 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$3.60
Rent$4.75
Gasoline$3.50
Medical care$6.41
New cars$1.84
College tuition$10.94
Electricity$3.24
Clothing$1.40

Try a different amount or date

$1.00 in 1982 has the same buying power as

$3.47 in August 2026

Prices rose 247.1% in total, an average of 2.86% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 in 1982 worth today?
$1 in 1982 is worth $3.47 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 in 1982?
You would need $3.47 to buy what $1 bought in 1982. That is 3.47 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 lost since 1982?
Kept as cash, $1 from 1982 buys only what $0.29 of 1982 money bought. It has lost 71% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1982?
Prices rose 6.2% in 1982. Since then the average has been 2.86% a year.

Other amounts from 1982

$1 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1982