How to use this tool

Translate old prices into present-day context in four quick steps.

Step 1

Pick country and item

Select a country and a spending category or item to compare.

Step 2

Choose “then” and “now” dates

Set the historical date and today’s comparison date.

Step 3

Compare adjusted values

Review inflation-adjusted amount and the equivalent modern price.

Step 4

Check the investing alternative

Use the investment comparison view to see opportunity-cost context.

Why prices look so different today

Inflation quietly erodes purchasing power over time. A movie ticket that cost under $3 in 1980 now costs over $15 - not because movies got five times better, but because each dollar bought more back then.

This tool uses CPI (Consumer Price Index) data to translate any historical price into today's equivalent purchasing power. But inflation is only half the story - we also show what that same amount would be worth if you had invested it instead.

Common questions this answers

How much was a gallon of milk in 1985?
What is $300/month rent from 1990 worth today?
Did the S&P 500 beat inflation since 2000?
How has the cost of a new car changed since the 1970s?

Data sources

Item prices are sourced from BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys, Statistics Canada, the ONS (UK), and TUIK (Turkey). CPI data is from each country's official statistical agency. Investment returns use total-return index data (dividends reinvested). All data is for educational purposes only - past performance does not indicate future results.

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