$5,000 in 1938 is worth $118,787 today
$5,000 in 1938 has the same buying power as
$118,787 in August 2026
That is 2,276% more, an average inflation rate of 3.66% a year over 88 years.
Put the other way, $5,000 today buys what $210.46 bought in 1938. Cash kept under the mattress since 1938 has lost 96% of its value.
$5,000 from nearby years
| $5,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | $128,838 | -5.1% |
| 1934 | $124,993 | 3.1% |
| 1935 | $122,255 | 2.2% |
| 1936 | $120,496 | 1.5% |
| 1937 | $116,313 | 3.6% |
| 1938 | $118,787 | -2.1% |
| 1939 | $120,496 | -1.4% |
| 1940 | $119,636 | 0.7% |
| 1941 | $113,939 | 5.0% |
| 1942 | $102,755 | 10.9% |
| 1943 | $96,815.03 | 6.1% |
How $5,000 from 1938 grew
$5,000 of 1938 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5,000 spent on each of these in 1938 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $144,801 |
| Rent | $94,725.11 |
| Gasoline | $130,340 |
| Medical care | $287,866 |
| New cars | $41,219.04 |
| Electricity | $52,730.78 |
| Clothing | $31,221.92 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5,000 in 1938 worth today?
- $5,000 in 1938 is worth $118,787 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5,000 in 1938?
- You would need $118,787 to buy what $5,000 bought in 1938. That is 23.76 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5,000 lost since 1938?
- Kept as cash, $5,000 from 1938 buys only what $210.46 of 1938 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1938?
- Prices rose -2.1% in 1938. Since then the average has been 3.66% a year.
Other amounts from 1938
- $1 in 1938
- $5 in 1938
- $10 in 1938
- $20 in 1938
- $50 in 1938
- $100 in 1938
- $500 in 1938
- $1,000 in 1938
- $10,000 in 1938
- $20,000 in 1938
- $50,000 in 1938
- $100,000 in 1938
- $1 million in 1938