$5 in 1977 is worth $27.64 today
$5 in 1977 has the same buying power as
$27.64 in August 2026
That is 453% more, an average inflation rate of 3.54% a year over 49 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.90 bought in 1977. Cash kept under the mattress since 1977 has lost 82% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $40.07 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $37.72 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $33.97 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $31.13 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $29.44 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $27.64 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $25.69 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $23.07 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $20.33 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $18.43 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $17.36 | 6.2% |
How $5 from 1977 grew
$5 of 1977 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1977 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $26.75 |
| Rent | $34.64 |
| Gasoline | $36.19 |
| Medical care | $52.02 |
| New cars | $12.75 |
| Electricity | $27.39 |
| Clothing | $8.70 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1977 worth today?
- $5 in 1977 is worth $27.64 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1977?
- You would need $27.64 to buy what $5 bought in 1977. That is 5.53 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1977?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1977 buys only what $0.90 of 1977 money bought. It has lost 82% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1977?
- Prices rose 6.5% in 1977. Since then the average has been 3.54% a year.
Other amounts from 1977
- $1 in 1977
- $10 in 1977
- $20 in 1977
- $50 in 1977
- $100 in 1977
- $500 in 1977
- $1,000 in 1977
- $5,000 in 1977
- $10,000 in 1977
- $20,000 in 1977
- $50,000 in 1977
- $100,000 in 1977
- $1 million in 1977