According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Houston, Texas are 210.67% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $34,761.08 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026, Houston experienced an average inflation rate of 2.55% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $16,500 in Houston in the year 1981 would cost $51,261.08 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% 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 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation in Houston was lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Houston, over time, for $16,500 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $16,500.00 | 10.00% |
| 1982 | $17,684.75 | 7.18% |
| 1983 | $18,188.38 | 2.85% |
| 1984 | $18,663.19 | 2.61% |
| 1985 | $19,081.87 | 2.24% |
| 1986 | $18,928.66 | -0.80% |
| 1987 | $19,351.89 | 2.24% |
| 1988 | $19,911.65 | 2.89% |
| 1989 | $20,736.88 | 4.14% |
| 1990 | $21,888.25 | 5.55% |
| 1991 | $22,748.37 | 3.93% |
| 1992 | $23,481.06 | 3.22% |
| 1993 | $24,238.03 | 3.22% |
| 1994 | $25,086.01 | 3.50% |
| 1995 | $25,431.87 | 1.38% |
| 1996 | $25,959.78 | 2.08% |
| 1997 | $26,449.76 | 1.89% |
| 1998 | $26,715.22 | 1.00% |
| 1999 | $27,047.44 | 1.24% |
| 2000 | $28,025.88 | 3.62% |
| 2001 | $28,893.58 | 3.10% |
| 2002 | $28,969.43 | 0.26% |
| 2003 | $29,767.35 | 2.75% |
| 2004 | $30,807.99 | 3.50% |
| 2005 | $31,919.92 | 3.61% |
| 2006 | $32,866.51 | 2.97% |
| 2007 | $33,411.73 | 1.66% |
| 2008 | $34,583.65 | 3.51% |
| 2009 | $34,639.05 | 0.16% |
| 2010 | $35,319.36 | 1.96% |
| 2011 | $36,451.94 | 3.21% |
| 2012 | $37,159.00 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | $37,730.27 | 1.54% |
| 2014 | $38,822.30 | 2.89% |
| 2015 | $38,785.44 | -0.09% |
| 2016 | $39,363.72 | 1.49% |
| 2017 | $40,164.58 | 2.03% |
| 2018 | $41,129.69 | 2.40% |
| 2019 | $41,640.80 | 1.24% |
| 2020 | $41,682.23 | 0.10% |
| 2021 | $43,423.64 | 4.18% |
| 2022 | $47,015.23 | 8.27% |
| 2023 | $48,687.26 | 3.56% |
| 2024 | $49,908.32 | 2.51% |
| 2025 | $50,530.00 | 1.25% |
| 2026 | $51,261.08 | 1.45%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 9.500 | 9.500 | 9.617 | 11.092 | 13.425 | 16.367 | 19.133 | 17.450 | 15.908 | 15.892 | 15.842 | 16.083 | 16.167 | 15.833 | 15.633 | 15.617 | 15.508 | 14.142 | 12.708 | 11.683 | 12.225 | 12.692 | 12.833 | 13.317 | 13.308 | 13.192 | 13.225 | 13.800 | 15.242 | 16.050 | 16.200 | 16.542 | 17.850 | 20.983 | 22.733 | 22.667 | 23.350 | 25.217 | 25.525 | 25.792 | 25.833 | 25.600 | 25.992 | 26.850 | 27.317 | 27.508 | 27.825 | 27.925 | 28.483 | 28.725 | 29.167 | 29.517 | 30.300 | 31.100 | 32.350 | 34.450 | 36.275 | 37.625 | 38.925 | 40.975 | 45.550 | 51.100 | 54.975 | 58.950 | 64.517 | 73.083 | 82.400 | 90.642 | 97.150 | 99.917 | 102.525 | 104.825 | 103.983 | 106.308 | 109.383 | 113.917 | 120.242 | 124.967 | 128.992 | 133.150 | 137.808 | 139.708 | 142.608 | 145.300 | 146.758 | 148.583 | 153.958 | 158.725 | 159.142 | 163.525 | 169.242 | 175.350 | 180.550 | 183.545 | 189.983 | 190.287 | 194.025 | 200.246 | 204.130 | 207.269 | 213.268 | 213.065 | 216.242 | 220.641 | 225.943 | 228.751 | 228.979 | 238.545 | 258.275 | 267.460 | 274.168 | 277.583 | 281.599 |