$10 in 1997 is worth $20.87 today
$10 in 1997 has the same buying power as
$20.87 in August 2026
That is 109% more, an average inflation rate of 2.56% a year over 29 years.
Put the other way, $10 today buys what $4.79 bought in 1997. Cash kept under the mattress since 1997 has lost 52% of its value.
$10 from nearby years
| $10 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | $23.88 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $23.18 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $22.60 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $21.98 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $21.35 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $20.87 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $20.55 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $20.11 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $19.45 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $18.91 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $18.62 | 1.6% |
How $10 from 1997 grew
$10 of 1997 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $10 spent on each of these in 1997 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $22.28 |
| Rent | $26.93 |
| Gasoline | $34.00 |
| Medical care | $25.28 |
| New cars | $12.45 |
| College tuition | $33.58 |
| Electricity | $23.40 |
| Clothing | $10.29 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $10 in 1997 worth today?
- $10 in 1997 is worth $20.87 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $10 in 1997?
- You would need $20.87 to buy what $10 bought in 1997. That is 2.09 times as much.
- How much buying power has $10 lost since 1997?
- Kept as cash, $10 from 1997 buys only what $4.79 of 1997 money bought. It has lost 52% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1997?
- Prices rose 2.3% in 1997. Since then the average has been 2.56% a year.
Other amounts from 1997
- $1 in 1997
- $5 in 1997
- $20 in 1997
- $50 in 1997
- $100 in 1997
- $500 in 1997
- $1,000 in 1997
- $5,000 in 1997
- $10,000 in 1997
- $20,000 in 1997
- $50,000 in 1997
- $100,000 in 1997
- $1 million in 1997