Value of $1 from 1940 to today
$1 in 1940 is worth
$23.93 in August 2026
Prices are 2,293% higher, an average of 3.76% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.04 bought in 1940.
Inflation in 1940
0.7%
Average CPI in 1940
14.0
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1940s
5.5%
1940 dollars in today's money
| In 1940 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $23.93 |
| $5 | $119.64 |
| $10 | $239.27 |
| $20 | $478.54 |
| $50 | $1,196.36 |
| $100 | $2,392.71 |
| $500 | $11,963.57 |
| $1,000 | $23,927.14 |
| $5,000 | $119,636 |
| $10,000 | $239,271 |
| $20,000 | $478,543 |
| $50,000 | $1,196,357 |
| $100,000 | $2,392,714 |
| $1 million | $23,927,143 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1940 grew
Which prices rose most since 1940
Overall prices rose 2,293% since 1940. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1940 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +12,266% | 5.8% |
| Car insurance | +9,539% | 5.4% |
| Medical care | +5,602% | 4.8% |
| Potatoes | +5,054% | 4.7% |
| Dental care | +4,659% | 4.6% |
| Beef | +4,190% | 4.5% |
| Doctor visits | +3,823% | 4.4% |
| Car repair and maintenance | +3,451% | 4.2% |
| Milk | +1,303% | 3.1% |
| Electricity | +984% | 2.8% |
| Shoes | +913% | 2.7% |
| Chicken and poultry | +776% | 2.6% |
| New cars | +740% | 2.5% |
| Eggs | +728% | 2.5% |
| Furniture | +630% | 2.3% |
| Clothing | +527% | 2.2% |
Year by year since 1940
| Year | $1 from 1940 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | $1.00 | 0.7% |
| 1941 | $1.05 | 5.0% |
| 1942 | $1.16 | 10.9% |
| 1943 | $1.24 | 6.1% |
| 1944 | $1.26 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $1.29 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $1.39 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $1.59 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $1.72 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $1.70 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $1.72 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $1.86 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $1.89 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $1.91 | 0.8% |
| 1954 | $1.92 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $1.91 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $1.94 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $2.01 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $2.06 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $2.08 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $2.11 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $2.14 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $2.16 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $2.19 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $2.21 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $2.25 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $2.31 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $2.39 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $2.49 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $2.62 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $2.77 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $2.89 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $2.99 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $3.17 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $3.52 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $3.84 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $4.06 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $4.33 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $4.66 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $5.19 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $5.89 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $6.49 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $6.89 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $7.11 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $7.42 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $7.69 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $7.83 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $8.11 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $8.45 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $8.86 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $9.34 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $9.73 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $10.02 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $10.32 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $10.59 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $10.89 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $11.21 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $11.46 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $11.64 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $11.90 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $12.30 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $12.65 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $12.85 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $13.14 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $13.49 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $13.95 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $14.40 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $14.81 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $15.38 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $15.32 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $15.58 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $16.07 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $16.40 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $16.64 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $16.91 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $16.93 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $17.14 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $17.51 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $17.94 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $18.26 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $18.49 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $19.36 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $20.90 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $21.76 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $22.41 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $23.00 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $23.93 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1940 worth today?
- $1 in 1940 has the same buying power as $23.93 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1940?
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1940, comparing the average CPI for 1940 with 1939.
- How much have prices gone up since 1940?
- Prices are 2,293% higher than in 1940, an average of 3.76% a year.
- What is $100 from 1940 worth today?
- $2,392.71. $1,000 from 1940 is worth $23,927.14.