Inflation & buying power
What is 2021 dollars worth today?
$1 in 2021 has the same buying power as about $1.24 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 2021 is about 24%, or roughly 4.3% per year over 5 years.
What 2021 money is worth today
| In 2021 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $12.37 |
| $100.00 | $123.68 |
| $1,000 | $1,237 |
| $10,000 | $12,368 |
| $100,000 | $123,675 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 2021 dollar is worth about $1.24 now.
What this means
A dollar in 2021 — during the post-pandemic 2020s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $1.24, because everyday prices have climbed about 24% in the 5 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.81 bought in 2021.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 2021: about 24%.
- Average annual inflation: about 4.3% per year.
- Time span: 5 years (2021 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 2021 worth today?
$1 in 2021 has the same buying power as about $1.24 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 24% since then (an average of about 4.3% a year).
How much has inflation been since 2021?
Cumulative inflation from 2021 to May 2026 is about 24%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 2021 costs about $123.68 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.