$10 in 1980 is worth $40.65 today
$10 in 1980 has the same buying power as
$40.65 in August 2026
That is 307% more, an average inflation rate of 3.09% a year over 46 years.
Put the other way, $10 today buys what $2.46 bought in 1980. Cash kept under the mattress since 1980 has lost 75% of its value.
$10 from nearby years
| $10 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | $62.26 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $58.87 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $55.28 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $51.38 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $46.14 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $40.65 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $36.85 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $34.71 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $33.63 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $32.24 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $31.13 | 3.6% |
How $10 from 1980 grew
$10 of 1980 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1980 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $40.37 |
| Rent | $55.50 |
| Gasoline | $36.90 |
| Medical care | $79.17 |
| New cars | $20.31 |
| College tuition | $139.48 |
| Electricity | $40.90 |
| Clothing | $15.04 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $10 in 1980 worth today?
- $10 in 1980 is worth $40.65 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $10 in 1980?
- You would need $40.65 to buy what $10 bought in 1980. That is 4.07 times as much.
- How much buying power has $10 lost since 1980?
- Kept as cash, $10 from 1980 buys only what $2.46 of 1980 money bought. It has lost 75% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1980?
- Prices rose 13.5% in 1980. Since then the average has been 3.09% a year.
Other amounts from 1980
- $1 in 1980
- $5 in 1980
- $20 in 1980
- $50 in 1980
- $100 in 1980
- $500 in 1980
- $1,000 in 1980
- $5,000 in 1980
- $10,000 in 1980
- $20,000 in 1980
- $50,000 in 1980
- $100,000 in 1980
- $1 million in 1980