$5 in 2008 is worth $7.78 today

$5 in 2008 has the same buying power as

$7.78 in August 2026

That is 56% more, an average inflation rate of 2.47% a year over 18 years.

Put the other way, $5 today buys what $3.21 bought in 2008. Cash kept under the mattress since 2008 has lost 36% of its value.

$5 from nearby years

$5 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
2003$9.102.3%
2004$8.872.7%
2005$8.583.4%
2006$8.313.2%
2007$8.082.8%
2008$7.783.8%
2009$7.81-0.4%
2010$7.681.6%
2011$7.453.2%
2012$7.302.1%
2013$7.191.5%

How $5 from 2008 grew

$0.00$2.00$4.00$6.00$8.0020102015202020252026.625: $7.78
$5 from 2008 in each later year's dollars

$5 of 2008 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 2008 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$8.18
Rent$9.23
Gasoline$6.48
Medical care$8.14
New cars$6.70
College tuition$8.63
Electricity$8.28
Clothing$5.75

Try a different amount or date

$5.00 in 2008 has the same buying power as

$7.78 in August 2026

Prices rose 55.6% in total, an average of 2.47% a year.

Questions

How much is $5 in 2008 worth today?
$5 in 2008 is worth $7.78 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $5 in 2008?
You would need $7.78 to buy what $5 bought in 2008. That is 1.56 times as much.
How much buying power has $5 lost since 2008?
Kept as cash, $5 from 2008 buys only what $3.21 of 2008 money bought. It has lost 36% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 2008?
Prices rose 3.8% in 2008. Since then the average has been 2.47% a year.

Other amounts from 2008

$5 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 2008