$5,000 in 1940 is worth $119,636 today
$5,000 in 1940 has the same buying power as
$119,636 in August 2026
That is 2,293% more, an average inflation rate of 3.76% a year over 86 years.
Put the other way, $5,000 today buys what $208.97 bought in 1940. Cash kept under the mattress since 1940 has lost 96% of its value.
$5,000 from nearby years
| $5,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 1944 | $95,164.77 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $93,050.00 | 2.3% |
How $5,000 from 1940 grew
$5,000 of 1940 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5,000 spent on each of these in 1940 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $146,008 |
| Rent | $94,725.11 |
| Gasoline | $141,629 |
| Medical care | $285,098 |
| New cars | $41,989.49 |
| Electricity | $54,205.77 |
| Clothing | $31,365.14 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5,000 in 1940 worth today?
- $5,000 in 1940 is worth $119,636 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5,000 in 1940?
- You would need $119,636 to buy what $5,000 bought in 1940. That is 23.93 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5,000 lost since 1940?
- Kept as cash, $5,000 from 1940 buys only what $208.97 of 1940 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1940?
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1940. Since then the average has been 3.76% a year.
Other amounts from 1940
- $1 in 1940
- $5 in 1940
- $10 in 1940
- $20 in 1940
- $50 in 1940
- $100 in 1940
- $500 in 1940
- $1,000 in 1940
- $10,000 in 1940
- $20,000 in 1940
- $50,000 in 1940
- $100,000 in 1940
- $1 million in 1940