$1 in 1936 is worth $24.10 today
$1 in 1936 has the same buying power as
$24.10 in August 2026
That is 2,310% more, an average inflation rate of 3.59% a year over 90 years.
Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.04 bought in 1936. Cash kept under the mattress since 1936 has lost 96% of its value.
$1 from nearby years
| $1 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | $22.04 | -9.0% |
| 1932 | $24.45 | -9.9% |
| 1933 | $25.77 | -5.1% |
| 1934 | $25.00 | 3.1% |
| 1935 | $24.45 | 2.2% |
| 1936 | $24.10 | 1.5% |
| 1937 | $23.26 | 3.6% |
| 1938 | $23.76 | -2.1% |
| 1939 | $24.10 | -1.4% |
| 1940 | $23.93 | 0.7% |
| 1941 | $22.79 | 5.0% |
How $1 from 1936 grew
$1 of 1936 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1936 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $27.81 |
| Rent | $20.50 |
| Gasoline | $26.26 |
| Medical care | $58.14 |
| New cars | $8.81 |
| Electricity | $10.17 |
| Clothing | $6.51 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1 in 1936 worth today?
- $1 in 1936 is worth $24.10 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1 in 1936?
- You would need $24.10 to buy what $1 bought in 1936. That is 24.10 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1 lost since 1936?
- Kept as cash, $1 from 1936 buys only what $0.04 of 1936 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1936?
- Prices rose 1.5% in 1936. Since then the average has been 3.59% a year.
Other amounts from 1936
- $5 in 1936
- $10 in 1936
- $20 in 1936
- $50 in 1936
- $100 in 1936
- $500 in 1936
- $1,000 in 1936
- $5,000 in 1936
- $10,000 in 1936
- $20,000 in 1936
- $50,000 in 1936
- $100,000 in 1936
- $1 million in 1936