Value of $1 from 1938 to today
$1 in 1938 is worth
$23.76 in August 2026
Prices are 2,276% higher, an average of 3.66% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.04 bought in 1938.
Inflation in 1938
-2.1%
Average CPI in 1938
14.1
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1930s
-2.1%
1938 dollars in today's money
| In 1938 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $23.76 |
| $5 | $118.79 |
| $10 | $237.57 |
| $20 | $475.15 |
| $50 | $1,187.87 |
| $100 | $2,375.74 |
| $500 | $11,878.72 |
| $1,000 | $23,757.45 |
| $5,000 | $118,787 |
| $10,000 | $237,574 |
| $20,000 | $475,149 |
| $50,000 | $1,187,872 |
| $100,000 | $2,375,745 |
| $1 million | $23,757,447 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1938 grew
Which prices rose most since 1938
Overall prices rose 2,276% since 1938. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1938 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +12,266% | 5.6% |
| Car insurance | +9,431% | 5.3% |
| Medical care | +5,657% | 4.7% |
| Dental care | +4,659% | 4.5% |
| Beef | +4,375% | 4.4% |
| Doctor visits | +3,823% | 4.3% |
| Car repair and maintenance | +3,451% | 4.1% |
| Fruits and vegetables | +3,400% | 4.1% |
| Goods (commodities) | +1,459% | 3.2% |
| Electricity | +955% | 2.7% |
| Shoes | +913% | 2.7% |
| New cars | +724% | 2.4% |
| Chicken and poultry | +695% | 2.4% |
| Eggs | +674% | 2.4% |
| Furniture | +630% | 2.3% |
| Clothing | +524% | 2.1% |
Year by year since 1938
| Year | $1 from 1938 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $1.00 | -2.1% |
| 1939 | $0.99 | -1.4% |
| 1940 | $0.99 | 0.7% |
| 1941 | $1.04 | 5.0% |
| 1942 | $1.16 | 10.9% |
| 1943 | $1.23 | 6.1% |
| 1944 | $1.25 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $1.28 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $1.38 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $1.58 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $1.71 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $1.69 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $1.71 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $1.84 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $1.88 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $1.89 | 0.8% |
| 1954 | $1.91 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $1.90 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $1.93 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $1.99 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $2.05 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $2.06 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $2.10 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $2.12 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $2.14 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $2.17 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $2.20 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $2.23 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $2.30 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $2.37 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $2.47 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $2.60 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $2.75 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $2.87 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $2.96 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $3.15 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $3.50 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $3.82 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $4.04 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $4.30 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $4.62 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $5.15 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $5.84 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $6.45 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $6.84 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $7.06 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $7.37 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $7.63 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $7.77 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $8.06 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $8.39 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $8.79 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $9.27 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $9.66 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $9.95 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $10.25 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $10.51 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $10.81 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $11.13 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $11.38 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $11.56 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $11.82 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $12.21 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $12.56 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $12.76 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $13.05 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $13.40 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $13.85 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $14.30 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $14.71 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $15.27 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $15.22 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $15.46 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $15.95 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $16.28 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $16.52 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $16.79 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $16.81 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $17.02 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $17.38 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $17.81 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $18.13 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $18.36 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $19.22 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $20.76 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $21.61 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $22.25 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $22.83 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $23.76 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1938 worth today?
- $1 in 1938 has the same buying power as $23.76 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1938?
- Prices fell 2.1% in 1938, comparing the average CPI for 1938 with 1937.
- How much have prices gone up since 1938?
- Prices are 2,276% higher than in 1938, an average of 3.66% a year.
- What is $100 from 1938 worth today?
- $2,375.74. $1,000 from 1938 is worth $23,757.45.