$5,000 in 1921 is worth $93,569.83 today

$5,000 in 1921 has the same buying power as

$93,569.83 in August 2026

That is 1,771% more, an average inflation rate of 2.83% a year over 105 years.

Put the other way, $5,000 today buys what $267.18 bought in 1921. Cash kept under the mattress since 1921 has lost 95% of its value.

$5,000 from nearby years

$5,000 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1916$153,6617.9%
1917$130,85217.4%
1918$110,92118.0%
1919$96,815.0314.6%
1920$83,745.0015.6%
1921$93,569.83-10.5%
1922$99,696.43-6.1%
1923$97,947.371.8%
1924$97,947.370.0%
1925$95,708.572.3%
1926$94,627.121.1%

How $5,000 from 1921 grew

$0.00$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K194019601980200020202026.625: $94K
$5,000 from 1921 in each later year's dollars

$5,000 of 1921 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5,000 spent on each of these in 1921 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$110,194
Rent$71,269.37
Electricity$35,803.35
Clothing$20,595.18

Try a different amount or date

$5,000.00 in 1921 has the same buying power as

$93,569.83 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,771.4% in total, an average of 2.83% a year.

Questions

How much is $5,000 in 1921 worth today?
$5,000 in 1921 is worth $93,569.83 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $5,000 in 1921?
You would need $93,569.83 to buy what $5,000 bought in 1921. That is 18.71 times as much.
How much buying power has $5,000 lost since 1921?
Kept as cash, $5,000 from 1921 buys only what $267.18 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

$5,000 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1921