Boston, Massachusetts prices: $238 in 2003 $406.80 in 2026

Inflation in Massachusetts

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Prices in Boston, 2003-2026 ($238)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Boston, Massachusetts are 70.93% higher in 2026 versus 2003 (a $168.80 difference in value).

Between 2003 and 2026: Boston experienced an average inflation rate of 2.36% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $238 in Boston in the year 2003 would cost $406.80 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.49% during this same period, inflation in Boston was lower.

In the year 2003: Pricing changed by 3.70%, which is above the average yearly change in Boston during the 2003-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2003 (2.27%), inflation in Boston was higher.

Price Inflation in Boston, Massachusetts since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.27%), 1918 (17.79%), and 1920 (17.25%).

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Buying power of $238.00 since 2003

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Boston, over time, for $238 beginning in 2003. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2003$238.003.70%
2004$244.822.87%
2005$252.583.17%
2006$260.653.19%
2007$265.551.88%
2008$275.293.67%
2009$273.05-0.81%
2010$277.531.64%
2011$284.882.65%
2012$289.491.62%
2013$293.511.39%
2014$298.331.64%
2015$300.220.63%
2016$304.361.38%
2017$312.122.55%
2018$322.193.23%
2019$328.662.01%
2020$332.201.08%
2021$342.473.09%
2022$367.157.21%
2023$380.883.74%
2024$393.063.20%
2025$405.113.06%
2026$406.800.42%*

* 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:

Year19141915191619171918191919201921192219231924192519261927192819291930193119321933193419351936193719381939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI10.50010.51710.81712.27514.45817.53320.55818.71717.05817.31717.43317.62518.27518.08317.73317.65017.52516.16714.57513.60814.03314.32514.40814.73314.35814.14214.27514.90816.50017.36717.55817.91719.38322.06723.88323.59223.90025.50026.05826.12526.22526.35027.07528.02528.92529.15029.70030.15030.80031.42531.85032.45033.45034.32535.67537.65039.95042.07543.57546.00050.75055.32559.82562.87566.23372.90082.15091.48395.40099.617104.517109.150112.133116.917123.783131.000138.583144.867148.400152.817154.750158.467163.100167.800171.583175.733183.267191.383196.267203.533209.367216.000222.900227.096235.423233.509237.341243.629247.564251.007255.125256.743260.282266.921275.531281.063284.089292.873313.978325.718336.142346.441347.892

Adjust Boston prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2003 * 2003 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Boston, Massachusetts was 203.533 in the year 2003 and 347.892 in 2026:

347.892 / 203.533 * $238 = $406.80

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $238 in 2003 has the same "purchasing power" as $406.80 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Boston, Massachusetts).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Boston, Massachusetts in 1914. In addition to Boston, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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