How much is $100 from 1942 worth today?

About $2,051.53 in 2026 dollars, based on the annual-average U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). 2026 is an estimate until the full-year CPI is published.

What was the inflation rate from 1942 to 2026?

Cumulative inflation was 1951.5%, an average of 3.66% per year over 84 years.

What would $100 today have bought in 1942?

Today’s $100 buys what about $4.87 bought in 1942.

What was the highest one-year inflation since 1942?

1947, when the CPI rose 14.4% over the year before.

$100 in 1942 is worth $2,052 in 2026

$100 in 1942 has the same buying power as $2,052 in 2026. Prices rose 1951.5% — about 3.66% a year. See $1 to $100,000 from 1942 in today’s dollars, using U.S. CPI-U.

Cumulative inflation

1951.5%

1942 → 2026

Average per year

3.66%

over 84 years

$100 today in 1942

$4.87

same buying power

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2026 uses the Minneapolis Fed’s estimate of the annual-average CPI until the full year is published.

What $100 from 1942 is worth, year by year

Year	$100 from 1942 equals
1942	$100.00
1952	$163.19
1962	$185.89
1972	$256.44
1982	$592.02
1992	$860.74
2002	$1,103.68
2012	$1,408.59
2022	$1,795.71
2026	$2,051.53

1942 dollars in 2026 dollars

In 1942	In 2026
$1.00	$20.52
$5.00	$102.58
$10.00	$205.15
$20.00	$410.31
$50.00	$1,025.77
$100.00	$2,051.53
$500.00	$10,257.67
$1,000.00	$20,515.34
$5,000.00	$102,576.69
$10,000.00	$205,153.37
$50,000.00	$1,025,766.87
$100,000.00	$2,051,533.74

How this is calculated

Value today = amount × (CPI in 2026 ÷ CPI in 1942). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, annual average) tracks what a typical basket of goods and services costs. Between 1942 and 2026the index rose by a factor of 20.515, so every 1942 dollar needs about $20.52 today to buy the same things. The biggest single-year jump in that span was 14.4% in 1947.

Frequently asked questions

How much is $100 from 1942 worth today?: About $2,051.53 in 2026 dollars, based on the annual-average U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). 2026 is an estimate until the full-year CPI is published.
What was the inflation rate from 1942 to 2026?: Cumulative inflation was 1951.5%, an average of 3.66% per year over 84 years.
What would $100 today have bought in 1942?: Today’s $100 buys what about $4.87 bought in 1942.
What was the highest one-year inflation since 1942?: 1947, when the CPI rose 14.4% over the year before.

$100 in other years

Any amount, any two years — open the inflation calculator