Inflation & buying power
What is 1921 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1921 has the same buying power as about $18.77 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1921 is about 1777%, or roughly 2.8% per year over 105 years.
What 1921 money is worth today
| In 1921 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $187.74 |
| $100.00 | $1,877 |
| $1,000 | $18,774 |
| $10,000 | $187,744 |
| $100,000 | $1,877,440 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1921 dollar is worth about $18.77 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1921 — during the Roaring Twenties — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $18.77, because everyday prices have climbed about 1777% in the 105 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.05 bought in 1921.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1921: about 1777%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.8% per year.
- Time span: 105 years (1921 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1921 worth today?
$1 in 1921 has the same buying power as about $18.77 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1777% since then (an average of about 2.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1921?
Cumulative inflation from 1921 to May 2026 is about 1777%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1921 costs about $1,877 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.