Inflation Calculator: What Is Your Dollar Worth Today?
How far does your money actually go? Enter any amount and year to see its real purchasing power today.
The BLS CPI-U inflation calculator below lets you compare the purchasing power of any dollar amount between 1985 and 2026. Enter your amount, pick your years, and see exactly how much inflation has eroded — or in rare cases, preserved — the real value of your money. For salary-specific calculations, use the Salary Inflation Calculator.
What is $100 worth in today’s dollars?
Pre-calculated equivalents of $100 in past years, in 2026 dollars (BLS CPI-U).
| Year | Equivalent of $100 today |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $127 |
| 2015 | $137 |
| 2010 | $149 |
| 2000 | $188 |
| 1990 | $248 |
Frequently asked questions
What is purchasing power? Purchasing power is how much your money can buy. When prices rise, the same dollar buys less — so your purchasing power falls. Comparing dollar amounts across years in “real” terms means adjusting for inflation so you see true buying power, not just nominal amounts.
Why has the dollar lost value since 2020? A surge in demand, supply disruptions, and expansionary fiscal and monetary policy pushed U.S. inflation to multi-decade highs. Cumulative inflation since 2020 is roughly 22% — so a dollar in 2020 buys about as much as $1.22 in 2026.
How does the CPI measure inflation? The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services. The BLS surveys thousands of items each month; the index shows how much that basket costs over time relative to a base period (1982–84 = 100).
What year had the highest inflation in recent history? In recent decades, 2022 had the highest U.S. inflation — the CPI rose about 8% over the year. The early 1980s saw even higher rates (double digits) as the Fed raised rates to tame inflation.
Related tools and articles
- → Salary Inflation Calculator — See if your pay has kept up
- → What’s Inflated Right Now — See which categories are rising fastest
- → Are Wages Keeping Up With Inflation? — The full breakdown
Based on BLS CPI-U All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average (1982-84=100). Data through 2026-01.