Value of $1 from 1988 to today
$1 in 1988 is worth
$2.83 in August 2026
Prices are 183% higher, an average of 2.77% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.35 bought in 1988.
Inflation in 1988
4.1%
Average CPI in 1988
118.3
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1980s
5.5%
1988 dollars in today's money
| In 1988 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $2.83 |
| $5 | $14.16 |
| $10 | $28.32 |
| $20 | $56.63 |
| $50 | $141.58 |
| $100 | $283.16 |
| $500 | $1,415.81 |
| $1,000 | $2,831.61 |
| $5,000 | $14,158.07 |
| $10,000 | $28,316.15 |
| $20,000 | $56,632.29 |
| $50,000 | $141,581 |
| $100,000 | $283,161 |
| $1 million | $2,831,615 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1988 grew
Which prices rose most since 1988
Overall prices rose 183% since 1988. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1988 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +1,110% | 6.8% |
| College tuition | +558% | 5.1% |
| Water and sewer | +477% | 4.7% |
| Car insurance | +442% | 4.5% |
| Dental care | +378% | 4.2% |
| Beef | +363% | 4.1% |
| Cable and streaming TV | +360% | 4.1% |
| Gasoline | +345% | 4.0% |
| Wine | +66% | 1.3% |
| Used cars and trucks | +56% | 1.2% |
| New cars | +54% | 1.1% |
| Shoes | +38% | 0.9% |
| Clothing | +19% | 0.4% |
| Furniture | +17% | 0.4% |
| Toys | -74% | -3.5% |
| Televisions | -99% | -10.8% |
Year by year since 1988
| Year | $1 from 1988 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $1.00 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $1.05 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $1.10 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $1.15 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $1.19 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $1.22 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $1.25 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $1.29 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $1.33 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $1.36 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $1.38 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $1.41 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $1.46 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $1.50 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $1.52 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $1.56 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $1.60 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $1.65 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $1.70 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $1.75 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $1.82 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $1.81 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $1.84 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $1.90 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $1.94 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $1.97 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $2.00 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $2.00 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $2.03 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $2.07 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $2.12 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $2.16 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $2.19 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $2.29 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $2.47 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $2.58 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $2.65 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $2.72 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $2.83 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1988 worth today?
- $1 in 1988 has the same buying power as $2.83 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1988?
- Prices rose 4.1% in 1988, comparing the average CPI for 1988 with 1987.
- How much have prices gone up since 1988?
- Prices are 183% higher than in 1988, an average of 2.77% a year.
- What is $100 from 1988 worth today?
- $283.16. $1,000 from 1988 is worth $2,831.61.