Houston, Texas prices: $15,000 in 1981 $44,921.81 in 2024

Inflation in Texas

$

Prices in Houston, 1981-2024 ($15,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Houston, Texas are 199.48% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $29,921.81 difference in value).

Between 1981 and 2024: Houston experienced an average inflation rate of 2.58% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $15,000 in Houston in the year 1981 would cost $44,921.81 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.89% during this same period, inflation in Houston was lower.

In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 10%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Houston during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation in Houston was lower.

Price Inflation in Houston, Texas since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.91%), 1918 (21.04%), and 1947 (17.55%).

View price changes for other categories
Alcoholic beverages · Gasoline (all types) · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Denver, Colorado · More

Buying power of $15,000.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Houston, over time, for $15,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$15,000.0010.00%
1982$16,077.047.18%
1983$16,534.892.85%
1984$16,966.532.61%
1985$17,347.152.24%
1986$17,207.87-0.80%
1987$17,592.632.24%
1988$18,101.502.89%
1989$18,851.714.14%
1990$19,898.415.55%
1991$20,680.333.93%
1992$21,346.423.22%
1993$22,034.573.22%
1994$22,805.463.50%
1995$23,119.891.38%
1996$23,599.802.08%
1997$24,045.231.89%
1998$24,286.571.00%
1999$24,588.581.24%
2000$25,478.073.62%
2001$26,266.893.10%
2002$26,335.850.26%
2003$27,061.232.75%
2004$28,007.263.50%
2005$29,018.113.61%
2006$29,878.642.97%
2007$30,374.301.66%
2008$31,439.683.51%
2009$31,490.040.16%
2010$32,108.511.96%
2011$33,138.133.21%
2012$33,780.901.94%
2013$34,300.241.54%
2014$35,293.002.89%
2015$35,259.49-0.09%
2016$35,785.201.49%
2017$36,513.262.03%
2018$37,390.632.40%
2019$37,855.271.24%
2020$37,892.930.10%
2021$39,476.044.18%
2022$42,741.128.27%
2023$44,261.143.56%
2024$44,921.811.49%*

* 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 Houston, Texas:

Year191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.5009.5009.61711.09213.42516.36719.13317.45015.90815.89215.84216.08316.16715.83315.63315.61715.50814.14212.70811.68312.22512.69212.83313.31713.30813.19213.22513.80015.24216.05016.20016.54217.85020.98322.73322.66723.35025.21725.52525.79225.83325.60025.99226.85027.31727.50827.82527.92528.48328.72529.16729.51730.30031.10032.35034.45036.27537.62538.92540.97545.55051.10054.97558.95064.51773.08382.40090.64297.15099.917102.525104.825103.983106.308109.383113.917120.242124.967128.992133.150137.808139.708142.608145.300146.758148.583153.958158.725159.142163.525169.242175.350180.550183.545189.983190.287194.025200.246204.130207.269213.268213.065216.242220.641225.943228.751228.979238.545258.275267.460271.452

Adjust Houston prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1981 * 1981 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Houston, Texas was 90.642 in the year 1981 and 271.452 in 2024:

271.452 / 90.642 * $15,000 = $44,921.81

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $15,000 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $44,921.81 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Houston, Texas).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Houston, Texas in 1914. In addition to Houston, 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.