$10 in 1971 is worth $82.71 today
$10 in 1971 has the same buying power as
$82.71 in August 2026
That is 727% more, an average inflation rate of 3.91% a year over 55 years.
Put the other way, $10 today buys what $1.21 bought in 1971. Cash kept under the mattress since 1971 has lost 88% of its value.
$10 from nearby years
| $10 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | $103.39 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $100.29 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $96.26 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $91.28 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $86.34 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $82.71 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $80.14 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $75.45 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $67.95 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $62.26 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $58.87 | 5.8% |
How $10 from 1971 grew
$10 of 1971 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1971 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $86.74 |
| Rent | $92.20 |
| Gasoline | $128.02 |
| Medical care | $164.27 |
| New cars | $32.50 |
| Electricity | $91.46 |
| Clothing | $22.38 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $10 in 1971 worth today?
- $10 in 1971 is worth $82.71 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $10 in 1971?
- You would need $82.71 to buy what $10 bought in 1971. That is 8.27 times as much.
- How much buying power has $10 lost since 1971?
- Kept as cash, $10 from 1971 buys only what $1.21 of 1971 money bought. It has lost 88% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1971?
- Prices rose 4.4% in 1971. Since then the average has been 3.91% a year.
Other amounts from 1971
- $1 in 1971
- $5 in 1971
- $20 in 1971
- $50 in 1971
- $100 in 1971
- $500 in 1971
- $1,000 in 1971
- $5,000 in 1971
- $10,000 in 1971
- $20,000 in 1971
- $50,000 in 1971
- $100,000 in 1971
- $1 million in 1971