$10 in 1996 is worth $21.35 today

$10 in 1996 has the same buying power as

$21.35 in August 2026

That is 113% more, an average inflation rate of 2.55% a year over 30 years.

Put the other way, $10 today buys what $4.68 bought in 1996. Cash kept under the mattress since 1996 has lost 53% of its value.

$10 from nearby years

$10 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1991$24.594.2%
1992$23.883.0%
1993$23.183.0%
1994$22.602.6%
1995$21.982.8%
1996$21.353.0%
1997$20.872.3%
1998$20.551.6%
1999$20.112.2%
2000$19.453.4%
2001$18.912.8%

How $10 from 1996 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20$252000200520102015202020252026.625: $21
$10 from 1996 in each later year's dollars

$10 of 1996 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1996 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$22.86
Rent$27.72
Gasoline$33.97
Medical care$25.99
New cars$12.51
College tuition$35.29
Electricity$23.52
Clothing$10.38

Try a different amount or date

$10.00 in 1996 has the same buying power as

$21.35 in August 2026

Prices rose 113.5% in total, an average of 2.55% a year.

Questions

How much is $10 in 1996 worth today?
$10 in 1996 is worth $21.35 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $10 in 1996?
You would need $21.35 to buy what $10 bought in 1996. That is 2.13 times as much.
How much buying power has $10 lost since 1996?
Kept as cash, $10 from 1996 buys only what $4.68 of 1996 money bought. It has lost 53% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1996?
Prices rose 3.0% in 1996. Since then the average has been 2.55% a year.

Other amounts from 1996

$10 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1996