$20 in 1922 is worth $398.79 today

$20 in 1922 has the same buying power as

$398.79 in August 2026

That is 1,894% more, an average inflation rate of 2.92% a year over 104 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.00 bought in 1922. Cash kept under the mattress since 1922 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1925$382.832.3%
1926$378.511.1%
1927$385.03-1.7%

How $20 from 1922 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400194019601980200020202026.625: $399
$20 from 1922 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1922 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1922 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$470.36
Rent$277.16
Electricity$144.89
Clothing$101.30

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1922 has the same buying power as

$398.79 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,893.9% in total, an average of 2.92% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1922 worth today?
$20 in 1922 is worth $398.79 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1922?
You would need $398.79 to buy what $20 bought in 1922. That is 19.94 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1922?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1922 buys only what $1.00 of 1922 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1922?
Prices rose -6.1% in 1922. Since then the average has been 2.92% a year.

Other amounts from 1922

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1922