$1 in 1920 is worth $16.75 today
$1 in 1920 has the same buying power as
$16.75 in August 2026
That is 1,575% more, an average inflation rate of 2.69% a year over 106 years.
Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.06 bought in 1920. Cash kept under the mattress since 1920 has lost 94% of its value.
$1 from nearby years
| $1 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1915 | $33.17 | 1.0% |
| 1916 | $30.73 | 7.9% |
| 1917 | $26.17 | 17.4% |
| 1918 | $22.18 | 18.0% |
| 1919 | $19.36 | 14.6% |
| 1920 | $16.75 | 15.6% |
| 1921 | $18.71 | -10.5% |
| 1922 | $19.94 | -6.1% |
| 1923 | $19.59 | 1.8% |
| 1924 | $19.59 | 0.0% |
| 1925 | $19.14 | 2.3% |
How $1 from 1920 grew
$1 of 1920 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1920 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $16.69 |
| Rent | $16.39 |
| Electricity | $7.30 |
| Clothing | $3.17 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1 in 1920 worth today?
- $1 in 1920 is worth $16.75 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1 in 1920?
- You would need $16.75 to buy what $1 bought in 1920. That is 16.75 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1 lost since 1920?
- Kept as cash, $1 from 1920 buys only what $0.06 of 1920 money bought. It has lost 94% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1920?
- Prices rose 15.6% in 1920. Since then the average has been 2.69% a year.
Other amounts from 1920
- $5 in 1920
- $10 in 1920
- $20 in 1920
- $50 in 1920
- $100 in 1920
- $500 in 1920
- $1,000 in 1920
- $5,000 in 1920
- $10,000 in 1920
- $20,000 in 1920
- $50,000 in 1920
- $100,000 in 1920
- $1 million in 1920