Value of $1 from 1985 to 2018
$1 in 1985 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $2.89 in 2018, an increase of $1.89 over 33 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.27% per year between 1985 and 2018, producing a cumulative price increase of 189.03%.
This means that prices in 2018 are 2.89 times as high as average prices since 1985, according to the Bureau of Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1985 was 6.52%. The inflation rate in 2018 was 1.89%. The 2018 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.97% per year between 2018 and 2025.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | 189.03% |
| Average inflation rate | 3.27% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $2.89 |
| Price difference $1 base | $1.89 |
| CPI in 1985 | 39.200 |
| CPI in 2018 | 113.300 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 6.52% |
| Inflation in 2018 | 1.89% |
| $1 in 1985 | $2.89 in 2018 |
Buying power of $1 in 1985
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1985 (price index tracking began in 1922).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $2.89 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $1 is equivalent to $2.89 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single Australian dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1985 dollars, the chart below shows how $1 is worth less over 33 years.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, each of these AUD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1985 amounts in 2018 dollars, based on the 189.03% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1985 | $2.89 dollars in 2018 |
| $5 dollars in 1985 | $14.45 dollars in 2018 |
| $10 dollars in 1985 | $28.90 dollars in 2018 |
| $50 dollars in 1985 | $144.52 dollars in 2018 |
| $100 dollars in 1985 | $289.03 dollars in 2018 |
| $500 dollars in 1985 | $1,445.15 dollars in 2018 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1985 | $2,890.31 dollars in 2018 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1985 | $14,451.53 dollars in 2018 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1985 | $28,903.06 dollars in 2018 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1985 | $144,515.31 dollars in 2018 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1985 | $289,030.61 dollars in 2018 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1985 | $1,445,153.06 dollars in 2018 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1985 | $2,890,306.12 dollars in 2018 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1985 to 2018
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1985 and 2018:
CPI in 2018 CPI in 1985
×
1985 AUD value
=
2018 AUD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Australian CPI was 39.2 in the year 1985 and 113.3 in 2018:
113.339.2
×
$1
=
$2.89
$1 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $2.89 in 2018.
To get the total inflation rate for the 33 years between 1985 and 2018, we use the following formula:
CPI in 2018 - CPI in 1985CPI in 1985
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (33 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
113.3 - 39.239.2
×
100
=
189%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Australia's annual (CPI) as provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The consumer price index was established in 1922 and is tracked by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$1 in 1985 → 2018 | Australia Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 16 May. 2025, https://www.officialdata.org/1985-AUD-in-2018?amount=1.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 189.03% |
| Average inflation rate | 3.27% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $2.89 |
| Price difference $1 base | $1.89 |
| CPI in 1985 | 39.200 |
| CPI in 2018 | 113.300 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 6.52% |
| Inflation in 2018 | 1.89% |
| $1 in 1985 | $2.89 in 2018 |
