Dallas, Texas prices: $18,000 in 1978 $88,402.77 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

$

Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($18,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $70,402.77 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, $18,000 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $88,402.77 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
Food · Juices and nonalcoholic drinks · Tampa, Florida · Houston, Texas · More

Buying power of $18,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $18,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$18,000.007.82%
1979$20,235.6912.42%
1980$23,664.7316.95%
1981$26,443.5111.74%
1982$28,041.136.04%
1983$29,066.433.66%
1984$30,432.694.70%
1985$31,572.453.75%
1986$32,125.291.75%
1987$32,926.532.49%
1988$33,883.642.91%
1989$34,896.772.99%
1990$36,474.904.52%
1991$38,182.114.68%
1992$39,107.562.42%
1993$40,086.592.50%
1994$41,219.052.83%
1995$42,293.062.61%
1996$43,449.872.74%
1997$44,224.331.78%
1998$44,850.221.42%
1999$46,116.632.82%
2000$48,055.204.20%
2001$49,750.243.53%
2002$50,427.281.36%
2003$51,489.112.11%
2004$52,175.891.33%
2005$53,861.183.23%
2006$55,541.603.12%
2007$56,375.631.50%
2008$58,955.004.58%
2009$58,566.17-0.66%
2010$58,910.880.59%
2011$60,694.903.03%
2012$61,968.512.10%
2013$63,092.691.81%
2014$63,841.771.19%
2015$63,522.73-0.50%
2016$64,413.601.40%
2017$66,055.152.55%
2018$67,999.042.94%
2019$69,426.712.10%
2020$69,857.190.62%
2021$73,373.515.03%
2022$79,848.988.83%
2023$84,055.695.27%
2024$87,378.203.95%
2025$88,661.061.47%
2026$88,402.77-0.29%*

* 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 * $18,000 = $88,402.77

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $18,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $88,402.77 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.

» Read more about inflation and investment.