$500 in 2006 is worth $830.80 today

$500 in 2006 has the same buying power as

$830.80 in August 2026

That is 66% more, an average inflation rate of 2.56% a year over 20 years.

Put the other way, $500 today buys what $300.91 bought in 2006. Cash kept under the mattress since 2006 has lost 40% of its value.

$500 from nearby years

$500 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
2001$945.742.8%
2002$931.021.6%
2003$910.272.3%
2004$886.662.7%
2005$857.603.4%
2006$830.803.2%
2007$807.802.8%
2008$777.933.8%
2009$780.70-0.4%
2010$768.111.6%
2011$744.603.2%

How $500 from 2006 grew

$0.00$200$400$600$800$100020102015202020252026.625: $831
$500 from 2006 in each later year's dollars

$500 of 2006 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $500 spent on each of these in 2006 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$897.59
Rent$997.33
Gasoline$817.96
Medical care$881.92
New cars$653.03
College tuition$973.90
Electricity$916.24
Clothing$572.18

Try a different amount or date

$500.00 in 2006 has the same buying power as

$830.80 in August 2026

Prices rose 66.2% in total, an average of 2.56% a year.

Questions

How much is $500 in 2006 worth today?
$500 in 2006 is worth $830.80 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $500 in 2006?
You would need $830.80 to buy what $500 bought in 2006. That is 1.66 times as much.
How much buying power has $500 lost since 2006?
Kept as cash, $500 from 2006 buys only what $300.91 of 2006 money bought. It has lost 40% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 2006?
Prices rose 3.2% in 2006. Since then the average has been 2.56% a year.

Other amounts from 2006

$500 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 2006