$100 in 1976 is worth $588.72 today

$100 in 1976 has the same buying power as

$588.72 in August 2026

That is 489% more, an average inflation rate of 3.60% a year over 50 years.

Put the other way, $100 today buys what $16.99 bought in 1976. Cash kept under the mattress since 1976 has lost 83% of its value.

$100 from nearby years

$100 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1971$827.114.4%
1972$801.393.2%
1973$754.466.2%
1974$679.4711.0%
1975$622.649.1%
1976$588.725.8%
1977$552.776.5%
1978$513.777.6%
1979$461.4011.3%
1980$406.5313.5%
1981$368.5110.3%

How $100 from 1976 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400$500$600198019902000201020202026.625: $589
$100 from 1976 in each later year's dollars

$100 of 1976 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $100 spent on each of these in 1976 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$568.86
Rent$734.86
Gasoline$765.40
Medical care$1,140.39
New cars$268.23
Electricity$583.91
Clothing$181.85

Try a different amount or date

$100.00 in 1976 has the same buying power as

$588.72 in August 2026

Prices rose 488.7% in total, an average of 3.60% a year.

Questions

How much is $100 in 1976 worth today?
$100 in 1976 is worth $588.72 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $100 in 1976?
You would need $588.72 to buy what $100 bought in 1976. That is 5.89 times as much.
How much buying power has $100 lost since 1976?
Kept as cash, $100 from 1976 buys only what $16.99 of 1976 money bought. It has lost 83% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1976?
Prices rose 5.8% in 1976. Since then the average has been 3.60% a year.

Other amounts from 1976

$100 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1976