$10 in 1973 is worth $75.45 today
$10 in 1973 has the same buying power as
$75.45 in August 2026
That is 654% more, an average inflation rate of 3.88% a year over 53 years.
Put the other way, $10 today buys what $1.33 bought in 1973. Cash kept under the mattress since 1973 has lost 87% of its value.
$10 from nearby years
| $10 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 1977 | $55.28 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $51.38 | 7.6% |
How $10 from 1973 grew
$10 of 1973 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1973 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $72.70 |
| Rent | $85.52 |
| Gasoline | $115.30 |
| Medical care | $152.84 |
| New cars | $32.79 |
| Electricity | $82.90 |
| Clothing | $21.17 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $10 in 1973 worth today?
- $10 in 1973 is worth $75.45 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $10 in 1973?
- You would need $75.45 to buy what $10 bought in 1973. That is 7.54 times as much.
- How much buying power has $10 lost since 1973?
- Kept as cash, $10 from 1973 buys only what $1.33 of 1973 money bought. It has lost 87% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1973?
- Prices rose 6.2% in 1973. Since then the average has been 3.88% a year.
Other amounts from 1973
- $1 in 1973
- $5 in 1973
- $20 in 1973
- $50 in 1973
- $100 in 1973
- $500 in 1973
- $1,000 in 1973
- $5,000 in 1973
- $10,000 in 1973
- $20,000 in 1973
- $50,000 in 1973
- $100,000 in 1973
- $1 million in 1973