Dallas, Texas prices: $120,000 in 1978 $589,351.81 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($120,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $469,351.81 difference in value).

Between 1978 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.37% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $120,000 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $589,351.81 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.82%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation in Dallas was 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
Bananas · Fish and seafood · Rent of primary residence · Alcoholic beverages · More

Buying power of $120,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $120,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$120,000.007.82%
1979$134,904.6112.42%
1980$157,764.8516.95%
1981$176,290.0811.74%
1982$186,940.876.04%
1983$193,776.213.66%
1984$202,884.594.70%
1985$210,483.023.75%
1986$214,168.581.75%
1987$219,510.222.49%
1988$225,890.952.91%
1989$232,645.112.99%
1990$243,166.014.52%
1991$254,547.424.68%
1992$260,717.092.42%
1993$267,243.952.50%
1994$274,793.672.83%
1995$281,953.732.61%
1996$289,665.812.74%
1997$294,828.851.78%
1998$299,001.491.42%
1999$307,444.192.82%
2000$320,368.024.20%
2001$331,668.253.53%
2002$336,181.841.36%
2003$343,260.722.11%
2004$347,839.261.33%
2005$359,074.553.23%
2006$370,277.363.12%
2007$375,837.531.50%
2008$393,033.364.58%
2009$390,441.13-0.66%
2010$392,739.170.59%
2011$404,632.663.03%
2012$413,123.422.10%
2013$420,617.941.81%
2014$425,611.801.19%
2015$423,484.89-0.50%
2016$429,424.001.40%
2017$440,367.692.55%
2018$453,326.912.94%
2019$462,844.762.10%
2020$465,714.630.62%
2021$489,156.765.03%
2022$532,326.568.83%
2023$560,371.265.27%
2024$582,521.343.95%
2025$591,073.761.47%
2026$589,351.81-0.29%*

* 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
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.377302.493

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1978 * 1978 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 61.592 in the year 1978 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 61.592 * $120,000 = $589,351.81

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $120,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $589,351.81 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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