Inflation & buying power
What is 1984 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1984 has the same buying power as about $3.23 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1984 is about 223%, or roughly 2.8% per year over 42 years.
What 1984 money is worth today
| In 1984 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $32.26 |
| $100.00 | $322.60 |
| $1,000 | $3,226 |
| $10,000 | $32,260 |
| $100,000 | $322,597 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1984 dollar is worth about $3.23 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1984 — during the 1980s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $3.23, because everyday prices have climbed about 223% in the 42 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.31 bought in 1984.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1984: about 223%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.8% per year.
- Time span: 42 years (1984 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1984 worth today?
$1 in 1984 has the same buying power as about $3.23 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 223% since then (an average of about 2.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1984?
Cumulative inflation from 1984 to May 2026 is about 223%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1984 costs about $322.60 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.