$5 in 1989 is worth $13.51 today
$5 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$13.51 in August 2026
That is 170% more, an average inflation rate of 2.71% a year over 37 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $1.85 bought in 1989. Cash kept under the mattress since 1989 has lost 63% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $16.12 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $15.57 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $15.28 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $14.74 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $14.16 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $13.51 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $12.81 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $12.30 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $11.94 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $11.59 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $11.30 | 2.6% |
How $5 from 1989 grew
$5 of 1989 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1989 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $14.01 |
| Rent | $16.91 |
| Gasoline | $20.32 |
| Medical care | $19.86 |
| New cars | $7.54 |
| College tuition | $30.50 |
| Electricity | $13.52 |
| Clothing | $5.77 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1989 worth today?
- $5 in 1989 is worth $13.51 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1989?
- You would need $13.51 to buy what $5 bought in 1989. That is 2.70 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1989?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1989 buys only what $1.85 of 1989 money bought. It has lost 63% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1989?
- Prices rose 4.8% in 1989. Since then the average has been 2.71% a year.
Other amounts from 1989
- $1 in 1989
- $10 in 1989
- $20 in 1989
- $50 in 1989
- $100 in 1989
- $500 in 1989
- $1,000 in 1989
- $5,000 in 1989
- $10,000 in 1989
- $20,000 in 1989
- $50,000 in 1989
- $100,000 in 1989
- $1 million in 1989