$1,000 in 1978 is worth $5,137.73 today
$1,000 in 1978 has the same buying power as
$5,137.73 in August 2026
That is 414% more, an average inflation rate of 3.46% a year over 48 years.
Put the other way, $1,000 today buys what $194.64 bought in 1978. Cash kept under the mattress since 1978 has lost 81% of its value.
$1,000 from nearby years
| $1,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | $7,544.59 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $6,794.73 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $6,226.39 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $5,887.17 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $5,527.72 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $5,137.73 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $4,614.05 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $4,065.29 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $3,685.15 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $3,471.30 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $3,363.25 | 3.2% |
How $1,000 from 1978 grew
$1,000 of 1978 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1,000 spent on each of these in 1978 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $4,866.92 |
| Rent | $6,479.03 |
| Gasoline | $6,944.75 |
| Medical care | $9,595.52 |
| New cars | $2,367.79 |
| College tuition | $16,486.44 |
| Electricity | $5,091.25 |
| Clothing | $1,680.00 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1,000 in 1978 worth today?
- $1,000 in 1978 is worth $5,137.73 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1,000 in 1978?
- You would need $5,137.73 to buy what $1,000 bought in 1978. That is 5.14 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1,000 lost since 1978?
- Kept as cash, $1,000 from 1978 buys only what $194.64 of 1978 money bought. It has lost 81% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1978?
- Prices rose 7.6% in 1978. Since then the average has been 3.46% a year.
Other amounts from 1978
- $1 in 1978
- $5 in 1978
- $10 in 1978
- $20 in 1978
- $50 in 1978
- $100 in 1978
- $500 in 1978
- $5,000 in 1978
- $10,000 in 1978
- $20,000 in 1978
- $50,000 in 1978
- $100,000 in 1978
- $1 million in 1978