What was €5 worth in 1930?
Germany Inflation & Purchasing Power Calculator
In 1930, €5 represented approximately 0.2 weeks of average wages — a modest expense.
Deflation, Unemployment, and the Collapse of Purchasing Power
The Great Depression (1929–1939) created a paradox: the purchasing power of money technically increased (deflation made dollars worth more), but 25% of Americans had no income at all. Prices fell 25% between 1929 and 1933. Banks collapsed, wiping out savings. President Roosevelt took the US off the domestic gold standard in 1933 and devalued the dollar. A family surviving on $500/year in 1935 was considered lower-middle class — that sum had the purchasing power of roughly $11,000 today, representing extreme poverty.
During the Depression, some American cities issued their own local currency ("scrip") because federal dollars were so scarce. Hundreds of these local currencies circulated simultaneously.
What €5 could buy in 1930 vs today
Life in Germany in 1930
The average annual wage in Germany in 1930 was approximately €1,680. This means €5 represented roughly 0.2 weeks of average earnings — a modest expense. A loaf of bread cost approximately €0.22 and monthly rent averaged around €20.
How €5 Lost Its Value Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions
What is €5 from 1930 worth in 2026?+
€5 in 1930 is equivalent to approximately €69 in 2026. This represents a 1288% increase due to cumulative inflation in Germany between 1930 and 2026.
How much has the € lost in value since 1930?+
Since 1930, the Germany currency has lost approximately 93% of its purchasing power. In other words, what cost €5 in 1930 would cost €69 today — you need 13.9× more money to buy the same goods.
What was the average salary in Germany in 1930?+
Based on historical wage data, €5 in 1930 represented approximately 0.2 weeks of average wages in Germany. This helps illustrate not just the nominal price change, but what money actually meant in human terms — how long people had to work to earn it.
How accurate is this inflation calculation for 1930?+
This calculation uses official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for Germany. For years before 1913 (USA) or equivalent periods for other countries, the calculation uses reconstructed price indices from academic sources including MeasuringWorth.com and the Bank of England's Millennium Dataset. Pre-industrial calculations carry a wider margin of uncertainty.
Why does purchasing power matter more than just inflation percentage?+
A simple inflation percentage tells you how prices changed, but purchasing power shows you what money could actually buy in human terms. €5 in 1930 bought a specific number of loaves of bread, weeks of rent, or months of wages — context that makes the number real and tangible, not just an abstract percentage.
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Other amounts in 1930
€5 in other years
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These calculations are estimates based on Germany's CPI data from German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis); Deutsche Bundesbank historical series; OECD. 1870–1923 uses Reichsmark/Gold Mark; 1924–1948 Reichsmark; 1948–2002 Deutsche Mark. All CPI rescaled to modern Euro-equivalent base. Hyperinflation of 1923 noted but data continuity maintained via rebasing. See our Methodology and Data Sources for full details. Not financial advice.