Inflation & buying power
What is 1922 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1922 has the same buying power as about $20.01 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1922 is about 1901%, or roughly 2.9% per year over 104 years.
What 1922 money is worth today
| In 1922 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $200.07 |
| $100.00 | $2,001 |
| $1,000 | $20,007 |
| $10,000 | $200,073 |
| $100,000 | $2,000,734 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1922 dollar is worth about $20.01 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 $20.01, because everyday prices have climbed about 1901% 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 1901%.
- 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 $20.01 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1901% since then (an average of about 2.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1922?
Cumulative inflation from 1922 to May 2026 is about 1901%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1922 costs about $2,001 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.