Inflation & buying power
What is 1998 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1998 has the same buying power as about $2.06 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1998 is about 106%, or roughly 2.6% per year over 28 years.
What 1998 money is worth today
| In 1998 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $20.56 |
| $100.00 | $205.59 |
| $1,000 | $2,056 |
| $10,000 | $20,559 |
| $100,000 | $205,587 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1998 dollar is worth about $2.06 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1998 — during the 1990s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $2.06, because everyday prices have climbed about 106% in the 28 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.49 bought in 1998.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1998: about 106%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.6% per year.
- Time span: 28 years (1998 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1998 worth today?
$1 in 1998 has the same buying power as about $2.06 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 106% since then (an average of about 2.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1998?
Cumulative inflation from 1998 to May 2026 is about 106%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1998 costs about $205.59 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.