Inflation & buying power
What is 1995 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1995 has the same buying power as about $2.20 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1995 is about 120%, or roughly 2.6% per year over 31 years.
What 1995 money is worth today
| In 1995 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $21.99 |
| $100.00 | $219.92 |
| $1,000 | $2,199 |
| $10,000 | $21,992 |
| $100,000 | $219,922 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1995 dollar is worth about $2.20 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1995 — during the 1990s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $2.20, because everyday prices have climbed about 120% in the 31 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.45 bought in 1995.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1995: about 120%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.6% per year.
- Time span: 31 years (1995 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1995 worth today?
$1 in 1995 has the same buying power as about $2.20 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 120% since then (an average of about 2.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1995?
Cumulative inflation from 1995 to May 2026 is about 120%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1995 costs about $219.92 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.