$5 in 1983 is worth $16.82 today

$5 in 1983 has the same buying power as

$16.82 in August 2026

That is 236% more, an average inflation rate of 2.85% a year over 43 years.

Put the other way, $5 today buys what $1.49 bought in 1983. Cash kept under the mattress since 1983 has lost 70% of its value.

$5 from nearby years

$5 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1978$25.697.6%
1979$23.0711.3%
1980$20.3313.5%
1981$18.4310.3%
1982$17.366.2%
1983$16.823.2%
1984$16.124.3%
1985$15.573.6%
1986$15.281.9%
1987$14.743.6%
1988$14.164.1%

How $5 from 1983 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$2019902000201020202026.625: $17
$5 from 1983 in each later year's dollars

$5 of 1983 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1983 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$17.63
Rent$22.43
Gasoline$18.10
Medical care$29.47
New cars$8.99
College tuition$49.53
Electricity$15.68
Clothing$6.82

Try a different amount or date

$5.00 in 1983 has the same buying power as

$16.82 in August 2026

Prices rose 236.3% in total, an average of 2.85% a year.

Questions

How much is $5 in 1983 worth today?
$5 in 1983 is worth $16.82 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $5 in 1983?
You would need $16.82 to buy what $5 bought in 1983. That is 3.36 times as much.
How much buying power has $5 lost since 1983?
Kept as cash, $5 from 1983 buys only what $1.49 of 1983 money bought. It has lost 70% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1983?
Prices rose 3.2% in 1983. Since then the average has been 2.85% a year.

Other amounts from 1983

$5 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1983