Inflation & buying power
What is 1964 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1964 has the same buying power as about $10.80 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1964 is about 980%, or roughly 3.9% per year over 62 years.
What 1964 money is worth today
| In 1964 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $108.04 |
| $100.00 | $1,080 |
| $1,000 | $10,804 |
| $10,000 | $108,045 |
| $100,000 | $1,080,449 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1964 dollar is worth about $10.80 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1964 — during the 1960s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $10.80, because everyday prices have climbed about 980% in the 62 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.09 bought in 1964.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1964: about 980%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.9% per year.
- Time span: 62 years (1964 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1964 worth today?
$1 in 1964 has the same buying power as about $10.80 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 980% since then (an average of about 3.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1964?
Cumulative inflation from 1964 to May 2026 is about 980%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1964 costs about $1,080 now.
Where does this data come from?
It uses the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CPIAUCNS) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, using annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly value for today.