$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 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 1927 | $385.03 | -1.7% |
How $20 from 1922 grew
$20 of 1922 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1922 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $470.36 |
| Rent | $277.16 |
| Electricity | $144.89 |
| Clothing | $101.30 |
Try a different amount or date
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
- $1 in 1922
- $5 in 1922
- $10 in 1922
- $50 in 1922
- $100 in 1922
- $500 in 1922
- $1,000 in 1922
- $5,000 in 1922
- $10,000 in 1922
- $20,000 in 1922
- $50,000 in 1922
- $100,000 in 1922
- $1 million in 1922