$10 in 1987 is worth $29.49 today

$10 in 1987 has the same buying power as

$29.49 in August 2026

That is 195% more, an average inflation rate of 2.80% a year over 39 years.

Put the other way, $10 today buys what $3.39 bought in 1987. Cash kept under the mattress since 1987 has lost 66% of its value.

$10 from nearby years

$10 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1982$34.716.2%
1983$33.633.2%
1984$32.244.3%
1985$31.133.6%
1986$30.561.9%
1987$29.493.6%
1988$28.324.1%
1989$27.014.8%
1990$25.635.4%
1991$24.594.2%
1992$23.883.0%

How $10 from 1987 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20$25$30199019952000200520102015202020252026.625: $29
$10 from 1987 in each later year's dollars

$10 of 1987 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1987 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$30.87
Rent$36.47
Gasoline$44.91
Medical care$45.58
New cars$15.71
College tuition$70.84
Electricity$28.19
Clothing$12.36

Try a different amount or date

$10.00 in 1987 has the same buying power as

$29.49 in August 2026

Prices rose 194.9% in total, an average of 2.80% a year.

Questions

How much is $10 in 1987 worth today?
$10 in 1987 is worth $29.49 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $10 in 1987?
You would need $29.49 to buy what $10 bought in 1987. That is 2.95 times as much.
How much buying power has $10 lost since 1987?
Kept as cash, $10 from 1987 buys only what $3.39 of 1987 money bought. It has lost 66% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1987?
Prices rose 3.6% in 1987. Since then the average has been 2.80% a year.

Other amounts from 1987

$10 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1987