$100 in 1974 is worth $679.47 today

$100 in 1974 has the same buying power as

$679.47 in August 2026

That is 579% more, an average inflation rate of 3.74% a year over 52 years.

Put the other way, $100 today buys what $14.72 bought in 1974. Cash kept under the mattress since 1974 has lost 85% of its value.

$100 from nearby years

$100 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1969$912.755.5%
1970$863.355.7%
1971$827.114.4%
1972$801.393.2%
1973$754.466.2%
1974$679.4711.0%
1975$622.649.1%
1976$588.725.8%
1977$552.776.5%
1978$513.777.6%
1979$461.4011.3%

How $100 from 1974 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400$500$600$700198019902000201020202026.625: $679
$100 from 1974 in each later year's dollars

$100 of 1974 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $100 spent on each of these in 1974 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$635.97
Rent$813.40
Gasoline$852.46
Medical care$1,398.59
New cars$309.85
Electricity$703.08
Clothing$197.05

Try a different amount or date

$100.00 in 1974 has the same buying power as

$679.47 in August 2026

Prices rose 579.5% in total, an average of 3.74% a year.

Questions

How much is $100 in 1974 worth today?
$100 in 1974 is worth $679.47 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $100 in 1974?
You would need $679.47 to buy what $100 bought in 1974. That is 6.79 times as much.
How much buying power has $100 lost since 1974?
Kept as cash, $100 from 1974 buys only what $14.72 of 1974 money bought. It has lost 85% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1974?
Prices rose 11.0% in 1974. Since then the average has been 3.74% a year.

Other amounts from 1974

$100 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1974