$5 in 1935 is worth $122.26 today

$5 in 1935 has the same buying power as

$122.26 in August 2026

That is 2,345% more, an average inflation rate of 3.57% a year over 91 years.

Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.20 bought in 1935. Cash kept under the mattress since 1935 has lost 96% of its value.

$5 from nearby years

$5 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1930$100.29-2.3%
1931$110.19-9.0%
1932$122.26-9.9%
1933$128.84-5.1%
1934$124.993.1%
1935$122.262.2%
1936$120.501.5%
1937$116.313.6%
1938$118.79-2.1%
1939$120.50-1.4%
1940$119.640.7%

How $5 from 1935 grew

$0.00$20$40$60$80$100$120$140194019601980200020202026.625: $122
$5 from 1935 in each later year's dollars

$5 of 1935 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1935 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$141.30
Rent$104.91
Gasoline$137.30
Medical care$290.69
New cars$44.26
Electricity$49.22
Clothing$32.87

Try a different amount or date

$5.00 in 1935 has the same buying power as

$122.26 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,345.1% in total, an average of 3.57% a year.

Questions

How much is $5 in 1935 worth today?
$5 in 1935 is worth $122.26 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $5 in 1935?
You would need $122.26 to buy what $5 bought in 1935. That is 24.45 times as much.
How much buying power has $5 lost since 1935?
Kept as cash, $5 from 1935 buys only what $0.20 of 1935 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1935?
Prices rose 2.2% in 1935. Since then the average has been 3.57% a year.

Other amounts from 1935

$5 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1935