Value of $1 from 1939 to today
$1 in 1939 is worth
$24.10 in August 2026
Prices are 2,310% higher, an average of 3.72% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.04 bought in 1939.
Inflation in 1939
-1.4%
Average CPI in 1939
13.9
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1930s
-2.1%
1939 dollars in today's money
| In 1939 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $24.10 |
| $5 | $120.50 |
| $10 | $240.99 |
| $20 | $481.99 |
| $50 | $1,204.96 |
| $100 | $2,409.93 |
| $500 | $12,049.64 |
| $1,000 | $24,099.28 |
| $5,000 | $120,496 |
| $10,000 | $240,993 |
| $20,000 | $481,986 |
| $50,000 | $1,204,964 |
| $100,000 | $2,409,928 |
| $1 million | $24,099,281 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1939 grew
Which prices rose most since 1939
Overall prices rose 2,310% since 1939. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1939 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +12,266% | 5.7% |
| Car insurance | +9,431% | 5.4% |
| Medical care | +5,657% | 4.8% |
| Potatoes | +4,885% | 4.6% |
| Dental care | +4,659% | 4.5% |
| Beef | +4,262% | 4.4% |
| Doctor visits | +3,823% | 4.3% |
| Car repair and maintenance | +3,451% | 4.2% |
| Milk | +1,348% | 3.1% |
| Electricity | +973% | 2.8% |
| Shoes | +927% | 2.7% |
| Chicken and poultry | +786% | 2.5% |
| Eggs | +753% | 2.5% |
| New cars | +744% | 2.5% |
| Furniture | +642% | 2.3% |
| Clothing | +533% | 2.1% |
Year by year since 1939
| Year | $1 from 1939 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $1.00 | -1.4% |
| 1940 | $1.01 | 0.7% |
| 1941 | $1.06 | 5.0% |
| 1942 | $1.17 | 10.9% |
| 1943 | $1.24 | 6.1% |
| 1944 | $1.27 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $1.29 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $1.40 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $1.60 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $1.73 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $1.71 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $1.73 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $1.87 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $1.91 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $1.92 | 0.8% |
| 1954 | $1.94 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $1.93 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $1.96 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $2.02 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $2.08 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $2.09 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $2.13 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $2.15 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $2.17 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $2.20 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $2.23 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $2.27 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $2.33 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $2.40 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $2.50 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $2.64 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $2.79 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $2.91 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $3.01 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $3.19 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $3.55 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $3.87 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $4.09 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $4.36 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $4.69 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $5.22 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $5.93 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $6.54 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $6.94 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $7.17 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $7.47 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $7.74 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $7.88 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $8.17 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $8.51 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $8.92 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $9.40 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $9.80 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $10.09 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $10.40 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $10.66 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $10.96 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $11.29 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $11.55 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $11.73 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $11.99 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $12.39 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $12.74 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $12.94 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $13.24 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $13.59 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $14.05 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $14.50 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $14.92 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $15.49 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $15.43 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $15.69 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $16.18 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $16.52 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $16.76 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $17.03 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $17.05 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $17.27 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $17.63 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $18.07 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $18.39 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $18.62 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $19.49 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $21.05 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $21.92 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $22.57 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $23.16 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $24.10 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1939 worth today?
- $1 in 1939 has the same buying power as $24.10 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1939?
- Prices fell 1.4% in 1939, comparing the average CPI for 1939 with 1938.
- How much have prices gone up since 1939?
- Prices are 2,310% higher than in 1939, an average of 3.72% a year.
- What is $100 from 1939 worth today?
- $2,409.93. $1,000 from 1939 is worth $24,099.28.