$10 in 1998 is worth $20.55 today

$10 in 1998 has the same buying power as

$20.55 in August 2026

That is 106% more, an average inflation rate of 2.59% a year over 28 years.

Put the other way, $10 today buys what $4.87 bought in 1998. Cash kept under the mattress since 1998 has lost 51% of its value.

$10 from nearby years

$10 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1993$23.183.0%
1994$22.602.6%
1995$21.982.8%
1996$21.353.0%
1997$20.872.3%
1998$20.551.6%
1999$20.112.2%
2000$19.453.4%
2001$18.912.8%
2002$18.621.6%
2003$18.212.3%

How $10 from 1998 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20$252000200520102015202020252026.625: $21
$10 from 1998 in each later year's dollars

$10 of 1998 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1998 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$21.81
Rent$26.09
Gasoline$39.27
Medical care$24.49
New cars$12.53
College tuition$32.22
Electricity$24.34
Clothing$10.28

Try a different amount or date

$10.00 in 1998 has the same buying power as

$20.55 in August 2026

Prices rose 105.5% in total, an average of 2.59% a year.

Questions

How much is $10 in 1998 worth today?
$10 in 1998 is worth $20.55 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $10 in 1998?
You would need $20.55 to buy what $10 bought in 1998. That is 2.06 times as much.
How much buying power has $10 lost since 1998?
Kept as cash, $10 from 1998 buys only what $4.87 of 1998 money bought. It has lost 51% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1998?
Prices rose 1.6% in 1998. Since then the average has been 2.59% a year.

Other amounts from 1998

$10 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1998