Inflation & buying power
What is 2005 dollars worth today?
$1 in 2005 has the same buying power as about $1.72 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 2005 is about 72%, or roughly 2.6% per year over 21 years.
What 2005 money is worth today
| In 2005 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $17.16 |
| $100.00 | $171.60 |
| $1,000 | $1,716 |
| $10,000 | $17,160 |
| $100,000 | $171,601 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 2005 dollar is worth about $1.72 now.
What this means
A dollar in 2005 — during the 2000s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $1.72, because everyday prices have climbed about 72% in the 21 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.58 bought in 2005.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 2005: about 72%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.6% per year.
- Time span: 21 years (2005 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 2005 worth today?
$1 in 2005 has the same buying power as about $1.72 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 72% since then (an average of about 2.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 2005?
Cumulative inflation from 2005 to May 2026 is about 72%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 2005 costs about $171.60 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.