Value of $100 from 1955 to 2017
$100 in 1955 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1,684.85 in 2017, an increase of $1,584.85 over 62 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 4.66% per year between 1955 and 2017, producing a cumulative price increase of 1,584.85%.
This means that prices in 2017 are 16.85 times as high as average prices since 1955, according to the Bureau of Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1955 was 1.54%. The inflation rate in 2017 was 1.92%. The 2017 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.84% per year between 2017 and 2025.
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| Cumulative price change | 1,584.85% |
| Average inflation rate | 4.66% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $1,684.85 |
| Price difference $100 base | $1,584.85 |
| CPI in 1955 | 6.600 |
| CPI in 2017 | 111.200 |
| Inflation in 1955 | 1.54% |
| Inflation in 2017 | 1.92% |
| $100 in 1955 | $1,684.85 in 2017 |
Buying power of $100 in 1955
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $100 in 1955 (price index tracking began in 1922).
For example, if you started with $100, you would need to end with $1,684.85 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $100 is equivalent to $1,684.85 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single Australian dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1955 dollars, the chart below shows how $100 is worth less over 62 years.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, each of these AUD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1955 amounts in 2017 dollars, based on the 1,584.85% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1955 | $16.85 dollars in 2017 |
| $5 dollars in 1955 | $84.24 dollars in 2017 |
| $10 dollars in 1955 | $168.48 dollars in 2017 |
| $50 dollars in 1955 | $842.42 dollars in 2017 |
| $100 dollars in 1955 | $1,684.85 dollars in 2017 |
| $500 dollars in 1955 | $8,424.24 dollars in 2017 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1955 | $16,848.48 dollars in 2017 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1955 | $84,242.42 dollars in 2017 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1955 | $168,484.85 dollars in 2017 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1955 | $842,424.24 dollars in 2017 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1955 | $1,684,848.48 dollars in 2017 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1955 | $8,424,242.42 dollars in 2017 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1955 | $16,848,484.85 dollars in 2017 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $100, 1955 to 2017
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1955 and 2017:
CPI in 2017 CPI in 1955
×
1955 AUD value
=
2017 AUD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Australian CPI was 6.6 in the year 1955 and 111.2 in 2017:
111.26.6
×
$100
=
$1,684.85
$100 in 1955 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $1,684.85 in 2017.
To get the total inflation rate for the 62 years between 1955 and 2017, we use the following formula:
CPI in 2017 - CPI in 1955CPI in 1955
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (62 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
111.2 - 6.66.6
×
100
=
1,585%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Australia's annual (CPI) as provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The consumer price index was established in 1922 and is tracked by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$100 in 1955 → 2017 | Australia Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 16 Apr. 2025, https://www.officialdata.org/australia/inflation/1955?amount=100&endYear=2017.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 1,584.85% |
| Average inflation rate | 4.66% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $1,684.85 |
| Price difference $100 base | $1,584.85 |
| CPI in 1955 | 6.600 |
| CPI in 2017 | 111.200 |
| Inflation in 1955 | 1.54% |
| Inflation in 2017 | 1.92% |
| $100 in 1955 | $1,684.85 in 2017 |