$5 in 1921 is worth $93.57 today
$5 in 1921 has the same buying power as
$93.57 in August 2026
That is 1,771% more, an average inflation rate of 2.83% a year over 105 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.27 bought in 1921. Cash kept under the mattress since 1921 has lost 95% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1916 | $153.66 | 7.9% |
| 1917 | $130.85 | 17.4% |
| 1918 | $110.92 | 18.0% |
| 1919 | $96.82 | 14.6% |
| 1920 | $83.75 | 15.6% |
| 1921 | $93.57 | -10.5% |
| 1922 | $99.70 | -6.1% |
| 1923 | $97.95 | 1.8% |
| 1924 | $97.95 | 0.0% |
| 1925 | $95.71 | 2.3% |
| 1926 | $94.63 | 1.1% |
How $5 from 1921 grew
$5 of 1921 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1921 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $110.19 |
| Rent | $71.27 |
| Electricity | $35.80 |
| Clothing | $20.60 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1921 worth today?
- $5 in 1921 is worth $93.57 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1921?
- You would need $93.57 to buy what $5 bought in 1921. That is 18.71 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1921?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1921 buys only what $0.27 of 1921 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1921?
- Prices rose -10.5% in 1921. Since then the average has been 2.83% a year.
Other amounts from 1921
- $1 in 1921
- $10 in 1921
- $20 in 1921
- $50 in 1921
- $100 in 1921
- $500 in 1921
- $1,000 in 1921
- $5,000 in 1921
- $10,000 in 1921
- $20,000 in 1921
- $50,000 in 1921
- $100,000 in 1921
- $1 million in 1921