$1,000 in 1936 is worth $24,099.28 today

$1,000 in 1936 has the same buying power as

$24,099.28 in August 2026

That is 2,310% more, an average inflation rate of 3.59% a year over 90 years.

Put the other way, $1,000 today buys what $41.50 bought in 1936. Cash kept under the mattress since 1936 has lost 96% of its value.

$1,000 from nearby years

$1,000 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1931$22,038.16-9.0%
1932$24,451.09-9.9%
1933$25,767.69-5.1%
1934$24,998.513.1%
1935$24,451.092.2%
1936$24,099.281.5%
1937$23,262.503.6%
1938$23,757.45-2.1%
1939$24,099.28-1.4%
1940$23,927.140.7%
1941$22,787.765.0%

How $1,000 from 1936 grew

$0.00$5000$10K$15K$20K$25K194019601980200020202026.625: $24K
$1,000 from 1936 in each later year's dollars

$1,000 of 1936 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1,000 spent on each of these in 1936 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$27,810.95
Rent$20,502.15
Gasoline$26,258.25
Medical care$58,137.55
New cars$8,809.56
Electricity$10,165.80
Clothing$6,512.00

Try a different amount or date

$1,000.00 in 1936 has the same buying power as

$24,099.28 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,309.9% in total, an average of 3.59% a year.

Questions

How much is $1,000 in 1936 worth today?
$1,000 in 1936 is worth $24,099.28 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1,000 in 1936?
You would need $24,099.28 to buy what $1,000 bought in 1936. That is 24.10 times as much.
How much buying power has $1,000 lost since 1936?
Kept as cash, $1,000 from 1936 buys only what $41.50 of 1936 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1936?
Prices rose 1.5% in 1936. Since then the average has been 3.59% a year.

Other amounts from 1936

$1,000 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1936