Dallas, Texas prices: $38,500 in 1985 $108,196.45 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1985-2025 ($38,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 181.03% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $69,696.45 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $38,500 in Dallas in the year 1985 would cost $108,196.45 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.76% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 3.75%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1985-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation in Dallas was higher.

Price Inflation in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas since 1963

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
1965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025-1001020
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (16.95%), 1979 (12.42%), and 1981 (11.74%).

View price changes for other categories
Financial services · Frankfurters · Boston, Massachusetts · San Francisco, California · More

Buying power of $38,500.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38,500 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$38,500.003.75%
1986$39,174.141.75%
1987$40,151.192.49%
1988$41,318.302.91%
1989$42,553.732.99%
1990$44,478.134.52%
1991$46,559.944.68%
1992$47,688.442.42%
1993$48,882.292.50%
1994$50,263.232.83%
1995$51,572.892.61%
1996$52,983.532.74%
1997$53,927.921.78%
1998$54,691.141.42%
1999$56,235.422.82%
2000$58,599.354.20%
2001$60,666.313.53%
2002$61,491.901.36%
2003$62,786.722.11%
2004$63,624.191.33%
2005$65,679.273.23%
2006$67,728.403.12%
2007$68,745.431.50%
2008$71,890.764.58%
2009$71,416.61-0.66%
2010$71,836.950.59%
2011$74,012.423.03%
2012$75,565.492.10%
2013$76,936.331.81%
2014$77,849.771.19%
2015$77,460.73-0.50%
2016$78,547.071.40%
2017$80,548.812.55%
2018$82,919.212.94%
2019$84,660.152.10%
2020$85,185.080.62%
2021$89,472.945.03%
2022$97,369.248.83%
2023$102,498.975.27%
2024$106,550.503.95%
2025$108,196.451.54%*

* 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:

Year196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.606

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 108.033 in the year 1985 and 303.606 in 2025:

303.606 / 108.033 * $38,500 = $108,196.45

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38,500 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $108,196.45 in 2025 (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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