Dallas, Texas prices: $81,000 in 1978 $397,812.47 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($81,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $316,812.47 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, $81,000 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $397,812.47 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
Housing · Milk · Electricity · Film and photographic supplies · More

Buying power of $81,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $81,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$81,000.007.82%
1979$91,060.6112.42%
1980$106,491.2716.95%
1981$118,995.8111.74%
1982$126,185.096.04%
1983$130,798.943.66%
1984$136,947.104.70%
1985$142,076.043.75%
1986$144,563.791.75%
1987$148,169.402.49%
1988$152,476.392.91%
1989$157,035.452.99%
1990$164,137.064.52%
1991$171,819.514.68%
1992$175,984.032.42%
1993$180,389.662.50%
1994$185,485.732.83%
1995$190,318.772.61%
1996$195,524.422.74%
1997$199,009.471.78%
1998$201,826.001.42%
1999$207,524.832.82%
2000$216,248.414.20%
2001$223,876.073.53%
2002$226,922.741.36%
2003$231,700.992.11%
2004$234,791.501.33%
2005$242,375.323.23%
2006$249,937.223.12%
2007$253,690.331.50%
2008$265,297.524.58%
2009$263,547.76-0.66%
2010$265,098.940.59%
2011$273,127.053.03%
2012$278,858.312.10%
2013$283,917.111.81%
2014$287,287.961.19%
2015$285,852.30-0.50%
2016$289,861.201.40%
2017$297,248.192.55%
2018$305,995.662.94%
2019$312,420.212.10%
2020$314,357.370.62%
2021$330,180.815.03%
2022$359,320.438.83%
2023$378,250.605.27%
2024$393,201.903.95%
2025$398,974.791.47%
2026$397,812.47-0.29%*

* 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 * $81,000 = $397,812.47

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $81,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $397,812.47 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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