$20 in 1921 is worth $374.28 today
$20 in 1921 has the same buying power as
$374.28 in August 2026
That is 1,771% more, an average inflation rate of 2.83% a year over 105 years.
Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.07 bought in 1921. Cash kept under the mattress since 1921 has lost 95% of its value.
$20 from nearby years
| $20 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1916 | $614.64 | 7.9% |
| 1917 | $523.41 | 17.4% |
| 1918 | $443.68 | 18.0% |
| 1919 | $387.26 | 14.6% |
| 1920 | $334.98 | 15.6% |
| 1921 | $374.28 | -10.5% |
| 1922 | $398.79 | -6.1% |
| 1923 | $391.79 | 1.8% |
| 1924 | $391.79 | 0.0% |
| 1925 | $382.83 | 2.3% |
| 1926 | $378.51 | 1.1% |
How $20 from 1921 grew
$20 of 1921 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1921 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $440.78 |
| Rent | $285.08 |
| Electricity | $143.21 |
| Clothing | $82.38 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $20 in 1921 worth today?
- $20 in 1921 is worth $374.28 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $20 in 1921?
- You would need $374.28 to buy what $20 bought in 1921. That is 18.71 times as much.
- How much buying power has $20 lost since 1921?
- Kept as cash, $20 from 1921 buys only what $1.07 of 1921 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1921?
- Prices rose -10.5% in 1921. Since then the average has been 2.83% a year.
Other amounts from 1921
- $1 in 1921
- $5 in 1921
- $10 in 1921
- $50 in 1921
- $100 in 1921
- $500 in 1921
- $1,000 in 1921
- $5,000 in 1921
- $10,000 in 1921
- $20,000 in 1921
- $50,000 in 1921
- $100,000 in 1921
- $1 million in 1921