$1 in 1928 is worth $19.59 today

$1 in 1928 has the same buying power as

$19.59 in August 2026

That is 1,859% more, an average inflation rate of 3.08% a year over 98 years.

Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.05 bought in 1928. Cash kept under the mattress since 1928 has lost 95% of its value.

$1 from nearby years

$1 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1923$19.591.8%
1924$19.590.0%
1925$19.142.3%
1926$18.931.1%
1927$19.25-1.7%
1928$19.59-1.7%
1929$19.590.0%
1930$20.06-2.3%
1931$22.04-9.0%
1932$24.45-9.9%
1933$25.77-5.1%

How $1 from 1928 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20194019601980200020202026.625: $20
$1 from 1928 in each later year's dollars

$1 of 1928 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1928 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$21.50
Rent$13.65
Electricity$7.89
Clothing$5.47

Try a different amount or date

$1.00 in 1928 has the same buying power as

$19.59 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,858.9% in total, an average of 3.08% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 in 1928 worth today?
$1 in 1928 is worth $19.59 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 in 1928?
You would need $19.59 to buy what $1 bought in 1928. That is 19.59 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 lost since 1928?
Kept as cash, $1 from 1928 buys only what $0.05 of 1928 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1928?
Prices rose -1.7% in 1928. Since then the average has been 3.08% a year.

Other amounts from 1928

$1 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1928