$5 in 1998 is worth $10.28 today
$5 in 1998 has the same buying power as
$10.28 in August 2026
That is 106% more, an average inflation rate of 2.59% a year over 28 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $2.43 bought in 1998. Cash kept under the mattress since 1998 has lost 51% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | $11.59 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $11.30 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $10.99 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $10.67 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $10.44 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $10.28 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $10.05 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $9.73 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $9.46 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $9.31 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $9.10 | 2.3% |
How $5 from 1998 grew
$5 of 1998 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1998 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $10.90 |
| Rent | $13.04 |
| Gasoline | $19.64 |
| Medical care | $12.25 |
| New cars | $6.27 |
| College tuition | $16.11 |
| Electricity | $12.17 |
| Clothing | $5.14 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1998 worth today?
- $5 in 1998 is worth $10.28 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1998?
- You would need $10.28 to buy what $5 bought in 1998. That is 2.06 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1998?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1998 buys only what $2.43 of 1998 money bought. It has lost 51% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1998?
- Prices rose 1.6% in 1998. Since then the average has been 2.59% a year.
Other amounts from 1998
- $1 in 1998
- $10 in 1998
- $20 in 1998
- $50 in 1998
- $100 in 1998
- $500 in 1998
- $1,000 in 1998
- $5,000 in 1998
- $10,000 in 1998
- $20,000 in 1998
- $50,000 in 1998
- $100,000 in 1998
- $1 million in 1998