Inflation & buying power
What is 1936 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1936 has the same buying power as about $24.17 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1936 is about 2317%, or roughly 3.6% per year over 90 years.
What 1936 money is worth today
| In 1936 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $241.67 |
| $100.00 | $2,417 |
| $1,000 | $24,167 |
| $10,000 | $241,669 |
| $100,000 | $2,416,694 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1936 dollar is worth about $24.17 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1936 — during the Great Depression — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $24.17, because everyday prices have climbed about 2317% in the 90 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1936.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1936: about 2317%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.6% per year.
- Time span: 90 years (1936 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1936 worth today?
$1 in 1936 has the same buying power as about $24.17 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2317% since then (an average of about 3.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1936?
Cumulative inflation from 1936 to May 2026 is about 2317%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1936 costs about $2,417 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.