$5 in 1934 is worth $124.99 today

$5 in 1934 has the same buying power as

$124.99 in August 2026

That is 2,400% more, an average inflation rate of 3.56% a year over 92 years.

Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.20 bought in 1934. Cash kept under the mattress since 1934 has lost 96% of its value.

$5 from nearby years

$5 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1929$97.950.0%
1930$100.29-2.3%
1931$110.19-9.0%
1932$122.26-9.9%
1933$128.84-5.1%
1934$124.993.1%
1935$122.262.2%
1936$120.501.5%
1937$116.313.6%
1938$118.79-2.1%
1939$120.50-1.4%

How $5 from 1934 grew

$0.00$20$40$60$80$100$120$140194019601980200020202026.625: $125
$5 from 1934 in each later year's dollars

$5 of 1934 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1934 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$151.04
Rent$104.91
Electricity$46.70
Clothing$33.19

Try a different amount or date

$5.00 in 1934 has the same buying power as

$124.99 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,399.9% in total, an average of 3.56% a year.

Questions

How much is $5 in 1934 worth today?
$5 in 1934 is worth $124.99 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $5 in 1934?
You would need $124.99 to buy what $5 bought in 1934. That is 25.00 times as much.
How much buying power has $5 lost since 1934?
Kept as cash, $5 from 1934 buys only what $0.20 of 1934 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1934?
Prices rose 3.1% in 1934. Since then the average has been 3.56% a year.

Other amounts from 1934

$5 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1934