Inflation & buying power
What is 2003 dollars worth today?
$1 in 2003 has the same buying power as about $1.82 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 2003 is about 82%, or roughly 2.6% per year over 23 years.
What 2003 money is worth today
| In 2003 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $18.22 |
| $100.00 | $182.17 |
| $1,000 | $1,822 |
| $10,000 | $18,217 |
| $100,000 | $182,174 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 2003 dollar is worth about $1.82 now.
What this means
A dollar in 2003 — during the 2000s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $1.82, because everyday prices have climbed about 82% in the 23 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.55 bought in 2003.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 2003: about 82%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.6% per year.
- Time span: 23 years (2003 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 2003 worth today?
$1 in 2003 has the same buying power as about $1.82 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 82% since then (an average of about 2.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 2003?
Cumulative inflation from 2003 to May 2026 is about 82%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 2003 costs about $182.17 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.