$1 in 1941 is worth $22.79 today
$1 in 1941 has the same buying power as
$22.79 in August 2026
That is 2,179% more, an average inflation rate of 3.74% a year over 85 years.
Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.04 bought in 1941. Cash kept under the mattress since 1941 has lost 96% of its value.
$1 from nearby years
| $1 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $24.10 | 1.5% |
| 1937 | $23.26 | 3.6% |
| 1938 | $23.76 | -2.1% |
| 1939 | $24.10 | -1.4% |
| 1940 | $23.93 | 0.7% |
| 1941 | $22.79 | 5.0% |
| 1942 | $20.55 | 10.9% |
| 1943 | $19.36 | 6.1% |
| 1944 | $19.03 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $18.61 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $17.18 | 8.3% |
How $1 from 1941 grew
$1 of 1941 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1941 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $26.75 |
| Rent | $18.55 |
| Gasoline | $27.05 |
| Medical care | $57.02 |
| New cars | $7.81 |
| Electricity | $10.92 |
| Clothing | $6.00 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1 in 1941 worth today?
- $1 in 1941 is worth $22.79 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1 in 1941?
- You would need $22.79 to buy what $1 bought in 1941. That is 22.79 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1 lost since 1941?
- Kept as cash, $1 from 1941 buys only what $0.04 of 1941 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1941?
- Prices rose 5.0% in 1941. Since then the average has been 3.74% a year.
Other amounts from 1941
- $5 in 1941
- $10 in 1941
- $20 in 1941
- $50 in 1941
- $100 in 1941
- $500 in 1941
- $1,000 in 1941
- $5,000 in 1941
- $10,000 in 1941
- $20,000 in 1941
- $50,000 in 1941
- $100,000 in 1941
- $1 million in 1941