$20 in 1919 is worth $387.26 today

$20 in 1919 has the same buying power as

$387.26 in August 2026

That is 1,836% more, an average inflation rate of 2.80% a year over 107 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.03 bought in 1919. Cash kept under the mattress since 1919 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1914$669.961.0%
1915$663.331.0%
1916$614.647.9%
1917$523.4117.4%
1918$443.6818.0%
1919$387.2614.6%
1920$334.9815.6%
1921$374.28-10.5%
1922$398.79-6.1%
1923$391.791.8%
1924$391.790.0%

How $20 from 1919 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$4001920194019601980200020202026.625: $387
$20 from 1919 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1919 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1919 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$376.79
Rent$385.41
Electricity$145.57
Clothing$75.55

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1919 has the same buying power as

$387.26 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,836.3% in total, an average of 2.80% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1919 worth today?
$20 in 1919 is worth $387.26 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1919?
You would need $387.26 to buy what $20 bought in 1919. That is 19.36 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1919?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1919 buys only what $1.03 of 1919 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1919?
Prices rose 14.6% in 1919. Since then the average has been 2.80% a year.

Other amounts from 1919

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1919