5 Surprising Things $100 Gets You Now vs. 5 Years Ago

Because of inflation and the rising cost of living, $100 doesn’t last as long as it used to.

According to the Cato Institute, consumer prices have risen 24% in just the last five years, and interest rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards have also increased sharply. But even though some things have become a lot more expensive, there are still a few that have remained pretty affordable. 

So here are the five surprising things $100 could get you now versus just five years ago.

A Concert Ticket

According to data from CouponBirds, concert ticket prices have increased 80.5% since 2021. In other words, you’re almost paying double for what you would’ve paid just half a decade ago. 

The company also found that the average ticket for major tours in the U.S. sets you back around $136.46 these days. Of course, $100 today might still cover tickets for smaller artists or less expensive venues, but if you’re seeing a super famous singer like Justin Bieber or Beyoncé, be prepared to pay much more than that. 

Movie Tickets

Even though movie ticket prices have gone up over the years, in 2025, $100 could still get you a family trip to the movie theaters. 

In 2021, movie ticket prices were around $10.17, so for a family of four, the total cost for admission would come out to around $40, according to 24-7 Wall Street. Today, the average cost of a movie ticket is $16.30, per CableTV, so that’s around $65 for a family of four. That still leaves enough room in a $100 budget for a few snacks, but not nearly as much as before. 

A Visit to the Veterinarian

Vet care prices have gone up 43% since 2021, according to new research from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. The company also surveyed over a thousand pet owners and found that 29% of them say they spend $100 or more each month on veterinary care alone.

A Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Many things have gotten more expensive, but not the Costco rotisserie chicken! Costco's famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken has remained the same price ever since it was first put on the shelves in 1994. That means $100 can still buy you about 20 chickens, which is enough to feed you for several weeks. 

So if you’re on a tight budget and want to keep your grocery costs as low as possible, add a couple of Costco rotisserie chickens to your cart. 

Netflix Subscription

Netflix's standard ad-free plan cost $13.99 per month in 2021, which means a hundred-dollar bill could pay for a little over 7 months of movies and shows.

As of today, the same plan costs $6 more at $19.99 per month, so that same $100 could only cover about five months of streaming. That means in 2026, the same $100 gets you two fewer months of Netflix than you could get five years ago.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.