Dallas, Texas prices: $21,000 in 1986 $57,788.06 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1986-2026 ($21,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 175.18% higher in 2026 versus 1986 (a $36,788.06 difference in value).

Between 1986 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.56% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $21,000 in Dallas in the year 1986 would cost $57,788.06 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.75% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 1.75%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1986-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation in Dallas was lower.

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 $21,000.00 since 1986

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $21,000 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1986$21,000.001.75%
1987$21,523.772.49%
1988$22,149.422.91%
1989$22,811.692.99%
1990$23,843.304.52%
1991$24,959.294.68%
1992$25,564.252.42%
1993$26,204.232.50%
1994$26,944.512.83%
1995$27,646.582.61%
1996$28,402.772.74%
1997$28,909.031.78%
1998$29,318.171.42%
1999$30,146.012.82%
2000$31,413.244.20%
2001$32,521.263.53%
2002$32,963.841.36%
2003$33,657.952.11%
2004$34,106.891.33%
2005$35,208.553.23%
2006$36,307.033.12%
2007$36,852.221.50%
2008$38,538.344.58%
2009$38,284.16-0.66%
2010$38,509.490.59%
2011$39,675.693.03%
2012$40,508.242.10%
2013$41,243.101.81%
2014$41,732.771.19%
2015$41,524.22-0.50%
2016$42,106.571.40%
2017$43,179.642.55%
2018$44,450.332.94%
2019$45,383.592.10%
2020$45,664.990.62%
2021$47,963.585.03%
2022$52,196.538.83%
2023$54,946.425.27%
2024$57,118.313.95%
2025$57,956.911.47%
2026$57,788.06-0.29%*

* 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 1986 * 1986 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 109.925 in the year 1986 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 109.925 * $21,000 = $57,788.06

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $21,000 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" as $57,788.06 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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