Daily AncestorWhat was a dollar worth in the 1930s?
One dollar in the 1930s bought about what $19.27 to $24.87 bought in 2025, depending on the year.
The table compares consumer prices only: what an amount from a will, an inventory, a land sale or a pension from the 1930s would buy in 2025. It does not compare wages, land values or how rich someone was.
| Year | $1 then, in 2025 dollars | $100 then, in 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | $19.27 | $1,927 |
| 1931 | $21.17 | $2,117 |
| 1932 | $23.60 | $2,360 |
| 1933 | $24.87 | $2,487 |
| 1934 | $24.07 | $2,407 |
| 1935 | $23.48 | $2,348 |
| 1936 | $23.20 | $2,320 |
| 1937 | $22.40 | $2,240 |
| 1938 | $22.87 | $2,287 |
| 1939 | $23.15 | $2,315 |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Consumer Price Index 1800 onward (annual averages).