$5 in 1982 is worth $17.36 today
$5 in 1982 has the same buying power as
$17.36 in August 2026
That is 247% more, an average inflation rate of 2.86% a year over 44 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $1.44 bought in 1982. Cash kept under the mattress since 1982 has lost 71% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $27.64 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $25.69 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $23.07 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $20.33 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $18.43 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $17.36 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $16.82 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $16.12 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $15.57 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $15.28 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $14.74 | 3.6% |
How $5 from 1982 grew
$5 of 1982 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1982 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $17.99 |
| Rent | $23.73 |
| Gasoline | $17.50 |
| Medical care | $32.05 |
| New cars | $9.22 |
| College tuition | $54.68 |
| Electricity | $16.18 |
| Clothing | $6.99 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1982 worth today?
- $5 in 1982 is worth $17.36 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1982?
- You would need $17.36 to buy what $5 bought in 1982. That is 3.47 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1982?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1982 buys only what $1.44 of 1982 money bought. It has lost 71% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1982?
- Prices rose 6.2% in 1982. Since then the average has been 2.86% a year.
Other amounts from 1982
- $1 in 1982
- $10 in 1982
- $20 in 1982
- $50 in 1982
- $100 in 1982
- $500 in 1982
- $1,000 in 1982
- $5,000 in 1982
- $10,000 in 1982
- $20,000 in 1982
- $50,000 in 1982
- $100,000 in 1982
- $1 million in 1982