RM100 in 1972 is worth RM558.10 today
RM100 in 1972 is worth RM558.10 in September 2026, based on 1972's average prices. Working back from DOSM's published yearly inflation, 1972's average price level is 24.7 on DOSM's 2010 = 100 index, against 137.6 in September 2026, so prices are 458.1% higher. Put the other way round, what costs RM100 today cost about RM17.92 in 1972.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) Consumer Price Index via data.gov.my, compared 1972 average to September 2026. Before 1980 DOSM publishes no monthly index, so 1972 uses DOSM's published yearly inflation.
Try your own amount1972 ringgit in today's money
| In 1972 | Worth in September 2026 |
|---|---|
| RM1 | RM5.58 |
| RM10 | RM55.81 |
| RM50 | RM279.05 |
| RM100 | RM558.10 |
| RM500 | RM2,790.52 |
| RM1,000 | RM5,581.05 |
| RM10,000 | RM55,810.48 |
| RM100,000 | RM558,104.83 |
What RM100 today would have been in 1972
RM100 today (September 2026) buys what RM17.92 bought on average in 1972.
How prices moved from 1972 to September 2026
Between 1972's average prices and September 2026, prices rose 458.1% in total. That is an average of 3.2% a year, compounded.
Prices first reached double 1972's average level in May 1983, 10 years 10 months later.
Left of the dashed line: yearly averages. Right of it: monthly readings, from January 1980.
Inflation in 1972
Prices rose 2.9% in 1972: DOSM's published yearly inflation, the average for 1972 against the average for 1971. That is below the average of 3.3% a year from 1960 to 1979. It ranks 9th highest of 19 years with a published yearly rate before 1980.
Inflation in 1972 was faster than 1971 (1.7%) and slower than 1973 (9.8%).
How 1972 is worked out
DOSM's monthly index starts in January 1980, so 1972 is worked out from DOSM's published yearly inflation instead. Start from 1980's average index (the mean of its 12 months) and take off each year's published rate going back, which gives an average price level for every earlier year. RM100 in 1972 is then RM100 × the latest monthly index ÷ 1972's average level. Because 1972 is a yearly average, the time since is counted from mid-year.
Frequently asked questions
How much is RM100 from 1972 worth today?
RM100 in 1972 is worth RM558.10 in September 2026, going by DOSM's Consumer Price Index with 1972 measured as the year's average, built from DOSM's published yearly inflation.
What was Malaysia's inflation in 1972?
Prices rose 2.9% in 1972: DOSM's published yearly inflation, the average for 1972 against the average for 1971. That is below the average of 3.3% a year from 1960 to 1979. It ranks 9th highest of 19 years with a published yearly rate before 1980.
How much have prices changed since 1972?
Between 1972's average prices and September 2026, prices rose 458.1% in total. That is an average of 3.2% a year, compounded.
Official source, coverage and how this is calculated: see our data methodology →