Value of $1 from 1920 to 1985
$1 in 1920 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $5.54 in 1985, an increase of $4.54 over 65 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.67% per year between 1920 and 1985, producing a cumulative price increase of 454.44%.
This means that prices in 1985 are 5.54 times as high as average prices in 1920, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1920 was 16.30%. The inflation rate in 1985 was 3.96%. The 1985 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 2.38% per year between 1985 and 2026.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | 454.44% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.67% |
|
Converted amount
$1 base | $5.54 |
|
Price difference
$1 base | $4.54 |
| CPI in 1920 | 11.358 |
| CPI in 1985 | 62.975 |
| Inflation in 1920 | 16.30% |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.96% |
| $1 in 1920 | $5.54 in 1985 |
Buying power of $1 in 1920
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1920 (price index tracking began in 1914).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $5.54 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $1 is equivalent to $5.54 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single Canadian dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1920 dollars, the chart below shows how $1 is worth less over 65 years.
According to Statistics Canada, each of these CAD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1920 amounts in 1985 dollars, based on the 454.44% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1920 | $5.54 dollars in 1985 |
| $5 dollars in 1920 | $27.72 dollars in 1985 |
| $10 dollars in 1920 | $55.44 dollars in 1985 |
| $50 dollars in 1920 | $277.22 dollars in 1985 |
| $100 dollars in 1920 | $554.44 dollars in 1985 |
| $500 dollars in 1920 | $2,772.19 dollars in 1985 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1920 | $5,544.39 dollars in 1985 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1920 | $27,721.94 dollars in 1985 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1920 | $55,443.87 dollars in 1985 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1920 | $277,219.37 dollars in 1985 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1920 | $554,438.74 dollars in 1985 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1920 | $2,772,193.69 dollars in 1985 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1920 | $5,544,387.38 dollars in 1985 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1920 to 1985
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1920 and 1985:
CPI in 1985CPI in 1920
×
1920 CAD value
=
1985 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 11.35833333 in the year 1920 and 62.975 in 1985:
62.97511.35833333
×
$1
=
$5.54
$1 in 1920 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $5.54 in 1985.
To get the total inflation rate for the 65 years between 1920 and 1985, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1985 - CPI in 1920CPI in 1920
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (65 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
62.975 - 11.3583333311.35833333
×
100
=
454%
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1920 worth in 1985?
$1 in 1920 has about the same buying power as $5.54 in 1985, based on the consumer price index published by Statistics Canada. Prices in 1985 are 5.54 times as high as they were in 1920.
What was the inflation rate in 1920?
The Canadian inflation rate in 1920 was 16.30%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1919 to 1920. See inflation in 1920 for more detail.
What has the average inflation rate been from 1920 to 1985?
Prices rose by an average of 2.67% per year between 1920 and 1985, a cumulative increase of 454.44%. Because inflation compounds, these yearly changes add up over 65 years.
How is this calculated?
Divide the CPI in 1985 (62.975) by the CPI in 1920 (11.358), then multiply by the original amount: 62.975 ÷ 11.358 × $1 = $5.54. See the step-by-step formula above.
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Canada's annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1914 and computed by Statistics Canada (StatCan).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$1 in 1920 → 1985 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 4 Oct. 2026, https://www.officialdata.org/canada/inflation/1920?amount=1&endYear=1985.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 454.44% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.67% |
|
Converted amount
$1 base | $5.54 |
|
Price difference
$1 base | $4.54 |
| CPI in 1920 | 11.358 |
| CPI in 1985 | 62.975 |
| Inflation in 1920 | 16.30% |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.96% |
| $1 in 1920 | $5.54 in 1985 |