According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Boston, Massachusetts are 434.02% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $520.83 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026, Boston experienced an average inflation rate of 3.55% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $120 in Boston in the year 1978 would cost $640.83 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.45% during this same period, inflation in Boston was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 5.34%, which is above the average yearly change in Boston during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation in Boston was lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Boston, over time, for $120 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $120.00 | 5.34% |
| 1979 | $132.08 | 10.07% |
| 1980 | $148.84 | 12.69% |
| 1981 | $165.75 | 11.36% |
| 1982 | $172.84 | 4.28% |
| 1983 | $180.48 | 4.42% |
| 1984 | $189.36 | 4.92% |
| 1985 | $197.76 | 4.43% |
| 1986 | $203.16 | 2.73% |
| 1987 | $211.83 | 4.27% |
| 1988 | $224.27 | 5.87% |
| 1989 | $237.34 | 5.83% |
| 1990 | $251.08 | 5.79% |
| 1991 | $262.47 | 4.53% |
| 1992 | $268.87 | 2.44% |
| 1993 | $276.87 | 2.98% |
| 1994 | $280.37 | 1.27% |
| 1995 | $287.11 | 2.40% |
| 1996 | $295.50 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $304.02 | 2.88% |
| 1998 | $310.87 | 2.25% |
| 1999 | $318.39 | 2.42% |
| 2000 | $332.04 | 4.29% |
| 2001 | $346.74 | 4.43% |
| 2002 | $355.59 | 2.55% |
| 2003 | $368.76 | 3.70% |
| 2004 | $379.33 | 2.87% |
| 2005 | $391.34 | 3.17% |
| 2006 | $403.84 | 3.19% |
| 2007 | $411.45 | 1.88% |
| 2008 | $426.53 | 3.67% |
| 2009 | $423.07 | -0.81% |
| 2010 | $430.01 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | $441.40 | 2.65% |
| 2012 | $448.53 | 1.62% |
| 2013 | $454.77 | 1.39% |
| 2014 | $462.23 | 1.64% |
| 2015 | $465.16 | 0.63% |
| 2016 | $471.57 | 1.38% |
| 2017 | $483.60 | 2.55% |
| 2018 | $499.20 | 3.23% |
| 2019 | $509.22 | 2.01% |
| 2020 | $514.71 | 1.08% |
| 2021 | $530.62 | 3.09% |
| 2022 | $568.86 | 7.21% |
| 2023 | $590.13 | 3.74% |
| 2024 | $609.01 | 3.20% |
| 2025 | $627.89 | 3.10% |
| 2026 | $640.83 | 2.06%* |
* 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 Boston, Massachusetts:
| Year | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 10.500 | 10.517 | 10.817 | 12.275 | 14.458 | 17.533 | 20.558 | 18.717 | 17.058 | 17.317 | 17.433 | 17.625 | 18.275 | 18.083 | 17.733 | 17.650 | 17.525 | 16.167 | 14.575 | 13.608 | 14.033 | 14.325 | 14.408 | 14.733 | 14.358 | 14.142 | 14.275 | 14.908 | 16.500 | 17.367 | 17.558 | 17.917 | 19.383 | 22.067 | 23.883 | 23.592 | 23.900 | 25.500 | 26.058 | 26.125 | 26.225 | 26.350 | 27.075 | 28.025 | 28.925 | 29.150 | 29.700 | 30.150 | 30.800 | 31.425 | 31.850 | 32.450 | 33.450 | 34.325 | 35.675 | 37.650 | 39.950 | 42.075 | 43.575 | 46.000 | 50.750 | 55.325 | 59.825 | 62.875 | 66.233 | 72.900 | 82.150 | 91.483 | 95.400 | 99.617 | 104.517 | 109.150 | 112.133 | 116.917 | 123.783 | 131.000 | 138.583 | 144.867 | 148.400 | 152.817 | 154.750 | 158.467 | 163.100 | 167.800 | 171.583 | 175.733 | 183.267 | 191.383 | 196.267 | 203.533 | 209.367 | 216.000 | 222.900 | 227.096 | 235.423 | 233.509 | 237.341 | 243.629 | 247.564 | 251.007 | 255.125 | 256.743 | 260.282 | 266.921 | 275.531 | 281.063 | 284.089 | 292.873 | 313.978 | 325.718 | 336.142 | 346.562 | 353.702 |