$500 in 2008 is worth $777.93 today

$500 in 2008 has the same buying power as

$777.93 in August 2026

That is 56% more, an average inflation rate of 2.47% a year over 18 years.

Put the other way, $500 today buys what $321.37 bought in 2008. Cash kept under the mattress since 2008 has lost 36% of its value.

$500 from nearby years

$500 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
2003$910.272.3%
2004$886.662.7%
2005$857.603.4%
2006$830.803.2%
2007$807.802.8%
2008$777.933.8%
2009$780.70-0.4%
2010$768.111.6%
2011$744.603.2%
2012$729.512.1%
2013$718.971.5%

How $500 from 2008 grew

$0.00$200$400$600$80020102015202020252026.625: $778
$500 from 2008 in each later year's dollars

$500 of 2008 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $500 spent on each of these in 2008 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$818.33
Rent$922.83
Gasoline$648.28
Medical care$814.42
New cars$669.61
College tuition$862.81
Electricity$828.38
Clothing$575.04

Try a different amount or date

$500.00 in 2008 has the same buying power as

$777.93 in August 2026

Prices rose 55.6% in total, an average of 2.47% a year.

Questions

How much is $500 in 2008 worth today?
$500 in 2008 is worth $777.93 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $500 in 2008?
You would need $777.93 to buy what $500 bought in 2008. That is 1.56 times as much.
How much buying power has $500 lost since 2008?
Kept as cash, $500 from 2008 buys only what $321.37 of 2008 money bought. It has lost 36% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 2008?
Prices rose 3.8% in 2008. Since then the average has been 2.47% a year.

Other amounts from 2008

$500 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 2008