$500 in 1958 is worth $5,795.50 today

$500 in 1958 has the same buying power as

$5,795.50 in August 2026

That is 1,059% more, an average inflation rate of 3.66% a year over 68 years.

Put the other way, $500 today buys what $43.14 bought in 1958. Cash kept under the mattress since 1958 has lost 91% of its value.

$500 from nearby years

$500 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1953$6,273.030.8%
1954$6,226.390.7%
1955$6,249.63-0.4%
1956$6,157.721.5%
1957$5,960.503.3%
1958$5,795.502.8%
1959$5,755.670.7%
1960$5,658.451.7%
1961$5,601.671.0%
1962$5,546.031.0%
1963$5,473.531.3%

How $500 from 1958 grew

$0.00$1000$2000$3000$4000$5000$600019601970198019902000201020202026.625: $5796
$500 from 1958 in each later year's dollars

$500 of 1958 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $500 spent on each of these in 1958 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$5,801.62
Rent$5,970.70
Gasoline$7,654.00
Medical care$14,393.28
New cars$1,793.56
Electricity$5,327.44
Clothing$1,533.09

Try a different amount or date

$500.00 in 1958 has the same buying power as

$5,795.50 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,059.1% in total, an average of 3.66% a year.

Questions

How much is $500 in 1958 worth today?
$500 in 1958 is worth $5,795.50 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $500 in 1958?
You would need $5,795.50 to buy what $500 bought in 1958. That is 11.59 times as much.
How much buying power has $500 lost since 1958?
Kept as cash, $500 from 1958 buys only what $43.14 of 1958 money bought. It has lost 91% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1958?
Prices rose 2.8% in 1958. Since then the average has been 3.66% a year.

Other amounts from 1958

$500 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1958