$10 in 1989 is worth $27.01 today
$10 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$27.01 in August 2026
That is 170% more, an average inflation rate of 2.71% a year over 37 years.
Put the other way, $10 today buys what $3.70 bought in 1989. Cash kept under the mattress since 1989 has lost 63% of its value.
$10 from nearby years
| $10 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $32.24 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $31.13 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $30.56 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $29.49 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $28.32 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $27.01 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $25.63 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $24.59 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $23.88 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $23.18 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $22.60 | 2.6% |
How $10 from 1989 grew
$10 of 1989 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1989 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $28.01 |
| Rent | $33.81 |
| Gasoline | $40.65 |
| Medical care | $39.72 |
| New cars | $15.08 |
| College tuition | $61.00 |
| Electricity | $27.03 |
| Clothing | $11.53 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $10 in 1989 worth today?
- $10 in 1989 is worth $27.01 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $10 in 1989?
- You would need $27.01 to buy what $10 bought in 1989. That is 2.70 times as much.
- How much buying power has $10 lost since 1989?
- Kept as cash, $10 from 1989 buys only what $3.70 of 1989 money bought. It has lost 63% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1989?
- Prices rose 4.8% in 1989. Since then the average has been 2.71% a year.
Other amounts from 1989
- $1 in 1989
- $5 in 1989
- $20 in 1989
- $50 in 1989
- $100 in 1989
- $500 in 1989
- $1,000 in 1989
- $5,000 in 1989
- $10,000 in 1989
- $20,000 in 1989
- $50,000 in 1989
- $100,000 in 1989
- $1 million in 1989