Inflation & buying power
What is 1930 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1930 has the same buying power as about $20.07 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1930 is about 1907%, or roughly 3.2% per year over 96 years.
What 1930 money is worth today
| In 1930 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $200.67 |
| $100.00 | $2,007 |
| $1,000 | $20,067 |
| $10,000 | $200,672 |
| $100,000 | $2,006,725 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1930 dollar is worth about $20.07 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1930 — during the Great Depression — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $20.07, because everyday prices have climbed about 1907% in the 96 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.05 bought in 1930.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1930: about 1907%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.2% per year.
- Time span: 96 years (1930 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1930 worth today?
$1 in 1930 has the same buying power as about $20.07 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1907% since then (an average of about 3.2% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1930?
Cumulative inflation from 1930 to May 2026 is about 1907%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1930 costs about $2,007 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.