$5 in 1959 is worth $57.56 today
$5 in 1959 has the same buying power as
$57.56 in August 2026
That is 1,051% more, an average inflation rate of 3.71% a year over 67 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.43 bought in 1959. Cash kept under the mattress since 1959 has lost 91% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | $62.26 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $62.50 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $61.58 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $59.60 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $57.96 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $57.56 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $56.58 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $56.02 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $55.46 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $54.74 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $54.03 | 1.3% |
How $5 from 1959 grew
$5 of 1959 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1959 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $58.99 |
| Rent | $58.77 |
| Gasoline | $75.89 |
| Medical care | $137.91 |
| New cars | $17.18 |
| Electricity | $52.55 |
| Clothing | $15.19 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1959 worth today?
- $5 in 1959 is worth $57.56 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1959?
- You would need $57.56 to buy what $5 bought in 1959. That is 11.51 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1959?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1959 buys only what $0.43 of 1959 money bought. It has lost 91% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1959?
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1959. Since then the average has been 3.71% a year.
Other amounts from 1959
- $1 in 1959
- $10 in 1959
- $20 in 1959
- $50 in 1959
- $100 in 1959
- $500 in 1959
- $1,000 in 1959
- $5,000 in 1959
- $10,000 in 1959
- $20,000 in 1959
- $50,000 in 1959
- $100,000 in 1959
- $1 million in 1959