Inflation & buying power
What is 1920 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1920 has the same buying power as about $16.72 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1920 is about 1572%, or roughly 2.7% per year over 106 years.
What 1920 money is worth today
| In 1920 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $167.21 |
| $100.00 | $1,672 |
| $1,000 | $16,721 |
| $10,000 | $167,210 |
| $100,000 | $1,672,104 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1920 dollar is worth about $16.72 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1920 — during the Roaring Twenties — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $16.72, because everyday prices have climbed about 1572% in the 106 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.06 bought in 1920.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1920: about 1572%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.7% per year.
- Time span: 106 years (1920 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1920 worth today?
$1 in 1920 has the same buying power as about $16.72 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1572% since then (an average of about 2.7% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1920?
Cumulative inflation from 1920 to May 2026 is about 1572%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1920 costs about $1,672 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.
Last reviewed June 20, 2026. Figures based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.