$5,000 in 1989 is worth $13,507.26 today
$5,000 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$13,507.26 in August 2026
That is 170% more, an average inflation rate of 2.71% a year over 37 years.
Put the other way, $5,000 today buys what $1,850.86 bought in 1989. Cash kept under the mattress since 1989 has lost 63% of its value.
$5,000 from nearby years
| $5,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $16,120.31 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $15,565.99 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $15,281.93 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $14,743.84 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $14,158.07 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $13,507.26 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $12,814.84 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $12,297.36 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $11,937.99 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $11,591.00 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $11,301.62 | 2.6% |
How $5,000 from 1989 grew
$5,000 of 1989 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5,000 spent on each of these in 1989 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $14,005.52 |
| Rent | $16,905.01 |
| Gasoline | $20,324.18 |
| Medical care | $19,859.44 |
| New cars | $7,538.38 |
| College tuition | $30,498.39 |
| Electricity | $13,516.00 |
| Clothing | $5,765.26 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5,000 in 1989 worth today?
- $5,000 in 1989 is worth $13,507.26 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5,000 in 1989?
- You would need $13,507.26 to buy what $5,000 bought in 1989. That is 2.70 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5,000 lost since 1989?
- Kept as cash, $5,000 from 1989 buys only what $1,850.86 of 1989 money bought. It has lost 63% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1989?
- Prices rose 4.8% in 1989. Since then the average has been 2.71% a year.
Other amounts from 1989
- $1 in 1989
- $5 in 1989
- $10 in 1989
- $20 in 1989
- $50 in 1989
- $100 in 1989
- $500 in 1989
- $1,000 in 1989
- $10,000 in 1989
- $20,000 in 1989
- $50,000 in 1989
- $100,000 in 1989
- $1 million in 1989