Inflation & buying power
What is 1922 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1922 has the same buying power as about $19.94 today (July 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1922 is about 1894%, or roughly 2.9% per year over 104 years.
What 1922 money is worth today
| In 1922 | Worth today (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $199.35 |
| $100.00 | $1,994 |
| $1,000 | $19,935 |
| $10,000 | $199,354 |
| $100,000 | $1,993,540 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1922 dollar is worth about $19.94 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1922 — during the Roaring Twenties — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $19.94, because everyday prices have climbed about 1894% in the 104 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.05 bought in 1922.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1922: about 1894%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.9% per year.
- Time span: 104 years (1922 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1922 worth today?
$1 in 1922 has the same buying power as about $19.94 in July 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1894% since then (an average of about 2.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1922?
Cumulative inflation from 1922 to July 2026 is about 1894%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1922 costs about $1,994 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.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. Figures based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.