Inflation & buying power
What is 1934 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1934 has the same buying power as about $25.04 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1934 is about 2404%, or roughly 3.6% per year over 92 years.
What 1934 money is worth today
| In 1934 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $250.41 |
| $100.00 | $2,504 |
| $1,000 | $25,041 |
| $10,000 | $250,409 |
| $100,000 | $2,504,095 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1934 dollar is worth about $25.04 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1934 — during the Great Depression — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $25.04, because everyday prices have climbed about 2404% in the 92 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1934.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1934: about 2404%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.6% per year.
- Time span: 92 years (1934 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1934 worth today?
$1 in 1934 has the same buying power as about $25.04 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2404% since then (an average of about 3.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1934?
Cumulative inflation from 1934 to May 2026 is about 2404%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1934 costs about $2,504 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.