$1 in 1930 is worth $20.06 today

$1 in 1930 has the same buying power as

$20.06 in August 2026

That is 1,906% more, an average inflation rate of 3.17% a year over 96 years.

Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.05 bought in 1930. Cash kept under the mattress since 1930 has lost 95% of its value.

$1 from nearby years

$1 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1925$19.142.3%
1926$18.931.1%
1927$19.25-1.7%
1928$19.59-1.7%
1929$19.590.0%
1930$20.06-2.3%
1931$22.04-9.0%
1932$24.45-9.9%
1933$25.77-5.1%
1934$25.003.1%
1935$24.452.2%

How $1 from 1930 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20$25194019601980200020202026.625: $20
$1 from 1930 in each later year's dollars

$1 of 1930 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1930 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$22.46
Rent$14.39
Electricity$8.33
Clothing$5.65

Try a different amount or date

$1.00 in 1930 has the same buying power as

$20.06 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,905.9% in total, an average of 3.17% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 in 1930 worth today?
$1 in 1930 is worth $20.06 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 in 1930?
You would need $20.06 to buy what $1 bought in 1930. That is 20.06 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 lost since 1930?
Kept as cash, $1 from 1930 buys only what $0.05 of 1930 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1930?
Prices rose -2.3% in 1930. Since then the average has been 3.17% a year.

Other amounts from 1930

$1 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1930