RealWorth

What was money really worth?

Not just an inflation number — a human translation. See what $100 in 1920 meant in months of salary, loaves of bread, and weeks of work. Then watch it melt over time.

Example

$100 in 1850 $3,800 today · was 10 months of average salary · bought 2,000 loaves of bread · only 2.6% of its value survives today

Translate Money Across Time

Enter an amount, pick a year and country — see what that money actually meant for real people

1800–2025

up to 2026

Quick examples

Rich-O-Meter

Enter your salary — see where you would rank in history

Work Hours Per Purchase

How many hours of work were needed to buy everyday items across history

All values are estimates for historical and educational purposes only. Not financial advice. CPI data: BLS, Bank of England, Destatis, INSEE, Statistics Canada, Statistics Bureau of Japan, MeasuringWorth.com. Methodology →