Dallas, Texas prices: $42,000 in 1981 $140,830.16 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2025 ($42,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 235.31% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $98,830.16 difference in value).

Between 1981 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.79% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $42,000 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $140,830.16 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.91% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 11.74%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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
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Buying power of $42,000.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$42,000.0011.74%
1982$44,537.486.04%
1983$46,165.963.66%
1984$48,335.974.70%
1985$50,146.253.75%
1986$51,024.311.75%
1987$52,296.922.49%
1988$53,817.092.91%
1989$55,426.232.99%
1990$57,932.774.52%
1991$60,644.324.68%
1992$62,114.202.42%
1993$63,669.182.50%
1994$65,467.862.83%
1995$67,173.702.61%
1996$69,011.052.74%
1997$70,241.111.78%
1998$71,235.221.42%
1999$73,246.642.82%
2000$76,325.664.20%
2001$79,017.873.53%
2002$80,093.201.36%
2003$81,779.702.11%
2004$82,870.511.33%
2005$85,547.253.23%
2006$88,216.253.12%
2007$89,540.921.50%
2008$93,637.724.58%
2009$93,020.14-0.66%
2010$93,567.630.59%
2011$96,401.183.03%
2012$98,424.052.10%
2013$100,209.571.81%
2014$101,399.331.19%
2015$100,892.60-0.50%
2016$102,307.561.40%
2017$104,914.822.55%
2018$108,002.282.94%
2019$110,269.842.10%
2020$110,953.570.62%
2021$116,538.515.03%
2022$126,823.448.83%
2023$133,504.925.27%
2024$138,782.033.95%
2025$140,830.161.48%*

* 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:

Year196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.400

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1981 * 1981 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 90.483 in the year 1981 and 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 90.483 * $42,000 = $140,830.16

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42,000 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $140,830.16 in 2025 (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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