What is $100 from 1988 worth today?
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as $284.92 in September 2026. Prices are 185% higher than in 1988, an average inflation rate of 2.78% a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index.
1988 dollars in today's money
| In 1988 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $2.85 |
| $5 | $14.25 |
| $10 | $28.49 |
| $20 | $56.98 |
| $50 | $142.46 |
| $100 | $284.92 |
| $1,000 | $2,849 |
| $10,000 | $28,492 |
| $100,000 | $284,919 |
Inflation calculator
Based on the annual average consumer price index (CPI-U) for each year; "today" is the latest monthly CPI.
What $100 from 1988 was worth over time
| Year | Value of $100 from 1988 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | $110.49 |
| 1995 | $128.86 |
| 2000 | $145.61 |
| 2005 | $165.14 |
| 2010 | $184.39 |
| 2015 | $200.42 |
| 2020 | $218.85 |
| September 2026 | $284.92 |
Annual-average CPI of each year.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $100 from 1988 worth today?
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as $284.92 in September 2026. Prices are 185% higher than in 1988, an average inflation rate of 2.78% a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1988?
Consumer prices rose 4.1% in 1988 on an annual-average basis, and +4.4% from December 1987 to December 1988.
How much would $1 from 1988 be worth now?
$1 in 1988 is worth about $2.85 in September 2026 dollars. Put the other way, a dollar today buys what $0.35 bought in 1988.
How is this calculated?
We divide the latest consumer price index (336.940 for September 2026) by the average index for 1988 (118.258) and multiply by the amount. The index is the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), 1982-84 = 100, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (1982-84 = 100), via FRED. What eggs, gas and other everyday items cost today →