$1 in 1950 is worth $13.90 today
$1 in 1950 has the same buying power as
$13.90 in August 2026
That is 1,290% more, an average inflation rate of 3.52% a year over 76 years.
Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.07 bought in 1950. Cash kept under the mattress since 1950 has lost 93% of its value.
$1 from nearby years
| $1 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | $18.61 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $17.18 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $15.02 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $13.90 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $14.07 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $13.90 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $12.88 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $12.64 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $12.55 | 0.8% |
| 1954 | $12.45 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $12.50 | -0.4% |
How $1 from 1950 grew
$1 of 1950 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1950 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $13.80 |
| Rent | $15.12 |
| Gasoline | $18.93 |
| Medical care | $39.27 |
| New cars | $4.36 |
| Electricity | $11.40 |
| Clothing | $3.39 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1 in 1950 worth today?
- $1 in 1950 is worth $13.90 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1 in 1950?
- You would need $13.90 to buy what $1 bought in 1950. That is 13.90 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1 lost since 1950?
- Kept as cash, $1 from 1950 buys only what $0.07 of 1950 money bought. It has lost 93% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1950?
- Prices rose 1.3% in 1950. Since then the average has been 3.52% a year.
Other amounts from 1950
- $5 in 1950
- $10 in 1950
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- $1,000 in 1950
- $5,000 in 1950
- $10,000 in 1950
- $20,000 in 1950
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- $1 million in 1950