1930 dollars in today's money
| In 1930 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $20.18 |
| $5.00 | $100.88 |
| $10.00 | $201.76 |
| $20.00 | $403.52 |
| $50.00 | $1,009 |
| $100.00 | $2,018 |
| $1,000 | $20,176 |
| $10,000 | $201,760 |
Inflation in 1930
Prices rose -2.7% in 1930 compared with 1929, which means prices actually fell (deflation). That is below the long-run average of 3.2% a year since 1913.
In the 1930s, the highest yearly rate was 3.7% in 1937 and the lowest was -10.3% in 1932.
The average Consumer Price Index in 1930 was 16.700 (1982–84 = 100). Today's index is 336.940, which is where the multiplier of 20.18× comes from.
Buying power: today's money in 1930
Going the other way, $100 today would have bought what $4.96 bought in 1930.
1930 compared with nearby years
| Year | $1 is worth today | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1925 | $19.21 | 2.4% |
| 1926 | $19.04 | 0.9% |
| 1927 | $19.41 | -1.9% |
| 1928 | $19.64 | -1.2% |
| 1929 | $19.64 | 0.0% |
| 1931 | $22.16 | -8.9% |
| 1932 | $24.70 | -10.3% |
| 1933 | $26.05 | -5.2% |
| 1934 | $25.18 | 3.5% |
| 1935 | $24.55 | 2.6% |
How this is calculated
Value today = amount × (CPI in September 2026 ÷ average CPI in 1930). The data is the CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Use the calculator above to convert between any two years.