Dallas, Texas prices:$38,500 in 1980$144,184.22 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1980-2026 ($38,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 274.50% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $105,684.22 difference in value).

Between 1980 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $38,500 in Dallas in the year 1980 would cost $144,184.22 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.03% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1980: Pricing changed by 16.95%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1980-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation in Dallas was much higher.

Price Inflation in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas since 1963

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (16.95%), 1979 (12.42%), and 1981 (11.74%).

View price changes for other categories
Rent of primary residence · Milk · Bananas · Wireless telephone services · More

Buying power of $38,500.00 since 1980

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38,500 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1980$38,500.0016.95%
1981$43,020.7911.74%
1982$45,619.946.04%
1983$47,288.003.66%
1984$49,510.754.70%
1985$51,365.033.75%
1986$52,264.431.75%
1987$53,567.972.49%
1988$55,125.092.91%
1989$56,773.342.99%
1990$59,340.794.52%
1991$62,118.254.68%
1992$63,623.862.42%
1993$65,216.632.50%
1994$67,059.022.83%
1995$68,806.322.61%
1996$70,688.332.74%
1997$71,948.291.78%
1998$72,966.551.42%
1999$75,026.862.82%
2000$78,180.714.20%
2001$80,938.363.53%
2002$82,039.831.36%
2003$83,767.322.11%
2004$84,884.641.33%
2005$87,626.433.23%
2006$90,360.303.12%
2007$91,717.171.50%
2008$95,913.544.58%
2009$95,280.94-0.66%
2010$95,841.740.59%
2011$98,744.163.03%
2012$100,816.192.10%
2013$102,645.111.81%
2014$103,863.781.19%
2015$103,344.75-0.50%
2016$104,794.091.40%
2017$107,464.722.55%
2018$110,627.222.94%
2019$112,949.902.10%
2020$113,650.240.62%
2021$119,370.925.03%
2022$129,905.828.83%
2023$136,749.695.27%
2024$142,155.063.95%
2025$144,207.121.44%
2026$144,184.22-0.02%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas:

Year1963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.303303.255

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1980* 1980 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 80.975 in the year 1980 and 303.255 in 2026:

303.255 / 80.975* $38,500 = $144,184.22

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38,500 in 1980 has the same "purchasing power" as $144,184.22 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas in 1963. In addition to Dallas, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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