Inflation & buying power
What is 1973 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1973 has the same buying power as about $7.55 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1973 is about 655%, or roughly 3.9% per year over 53 years.
What 1973 money is worth today
| In 1973 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $75.48 |
| $100.00 | $754.78 |
| $1,000 | $7,548 |
| $10,000 | $75,478 |
| $100,000 | $754,782 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1973 dollar is worth about $7.55 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1973 — during the high-inflation 1970s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $7.55, because everyday prices have climbed about 655% in the 53 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.13 bought in 1973.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1973: about 655%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.9% per year.
- Time span: 53 years (1973 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1973 worth today?
$1 in 1973 has the same buying power as about $7.55 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 655% since then (an average of about 3.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1973?
Cumulative inflation from 1973 to May 2026 is about 655%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1973 costs about $754.78 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.