$5 in 1974 is worth $33.97 today
$5 in 1974 has the same buying power as
$33.97 in August 2026
That is 579% more, an average inflation rate of 3.74% a year over 52 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.74 bought in 1974. Cash kept under the mattress since 1974 has lost 85% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | $45.64 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $43.17 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $41.36 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $40.07 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $37.72 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $33.97 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $31.13 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $29.44 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $27.64 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $25.69 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $23.07 | 11.3% |
How $5 from 1974 grew
$5 of 1974 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1974 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $31.80 |
| Rent | $40.67 |
| Gasoline | $42.62 |
| Medical care | $69.93 |
| New cars | $15.49 |
| Electricity | $35.15 |
| Clothing | $9.85 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1974 worth today?
- $5 in 1974 is worth $33.97 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1974?
- You would need $33.97 to buy what $5 bought in 1974. That is 6.79 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1974?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1974 buys only what $0.74 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
- $1 in 1974
- $10 in 1974
- $20 in 1974
- $50 in 1974
- $100 in 1974
- $500 in 1974
- $1,000 in 1974
- $5,000 in 1974
- $10,000 in 1974
- $20,000 in 1974
- $50,000 in 1974
- $100,000 in 1974
- $1 million in 1974