Inflation & buying power
What is 1920 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1920 has the same buying power as about $16.72 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1920 is about 1572%, or roughly 2.7% per year over 106 years.
What 1920 money is worth today
| In 1920 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $167.21 |
| $100.00 | $1,672 |
| $1,000 | $16,721 |
| $10,000 | $167,210 |
| $100,000 | $1,672,104 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1920 dollar is worth about $16.72 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1920 — during the Roaring Twenties — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $16.72, because everyday prices have climbed about 1572% in the 106 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.06 bought in 1920.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1920: about 1572%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.7% per year.
- Time span: 106 years (1920 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1920 worth today?
$1 in 1920 has the same buying power as about $16.72 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1572% since then (an average of about 2.7% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1920?
Cumulative inflation from 1920 to May 2026 is about 1572%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1920 costs about $1,672 now.
Where does this data come from?
It uses the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CPIAUCNS) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, using annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly value for today.