$1,000 in 1973 is worth $7,544.59 today
$1,000 in 1973 has the same buying power as
$7,544.59 in August 2026
That is 654% more, an average inflation rate of 3.88% a year over 53 years.
Put the other way, $1,000 today buys what $132.55 bought in 1973. Cash kept under the mattress since 1973 has lost 87% of its value.
$1,000 from nearby years
| $1,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | $9,625.86 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $9,127.52 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $8,633.51 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $8,271.11 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $8,013.88 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $7,544.59 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $6,794.73 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $6,226.39 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $5,887.17 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $5,527.72 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $5,137.73 | 7.6% |
How $1,000 from 1973 grew
$1,000 of 1973 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1,000 spent on each of these in 1973 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $7,270.08 |
| Rent | $8,552.32 |
| Gasoline | $11,530.06 |
| Medical care | $15,283.58 |
| New cars | $3,279.47 |
| Electricity | $8,290.29 |
| Clothing | $2,116.90 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1,000 in 1973 worth today?
- $1,000 in 1973 is worth $7,544.59 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1,000 in 1973?
- You would need $7,544.59 to buy what $1,000 bought in 1973. That is 7.54 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1,000 lost since 1973?
- Kept as cash, $1,000 from 1973 buys only what $132.55 of 1973 money bought. It has lost 87% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1973?
- Prices rose 6.2% in 1973. Since then the average has been 3.88% a year.
Other amounts from 1973
- $1 in 1973
- $5 in 1973
- $10 in 1973
- $20 in 1973
- $50 in 1973
- $100 in 1973
- $500 in 1973
- $5,000 in 1973
- $10,000 in 1973
- $20,000 in 1973
- $50,000 in 1973
- $100,000 in 1973
- $1 million in 1973