Inflation & buying power
What is 1938 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1938 has the same buying power as about $23.78 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1938 is about 2278%, or roughly 3.7% per year over 88 years.
What 1938 money is worth today
| In 1938 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $237.81 |
| $100.00 | $2,378 |
| $1,000 | $23,781 |
| $10,000 | $237,811 |
| $100,000 | $2,378,108 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1938 dollar is worth about $23.78 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1938 — during the Great Depression — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $23.78, because everyday prices have climbed about 2278% in the 88 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1938.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1938: about 2278%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.7% per year.
- Time span: 88 years (1938 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1938 worth today?
$1 in 1938 has the same buying power as about $23.78 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2278% since then (an average of about 3.7% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1938?
Cumulative inflation from 1938 to May 2026 is about 2278%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1938 costs about $2,378 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.