$20 in 1958 is worth $231.82 today

$20 in 1958 has the same buying power as

$231.82 in August 2026

That is 1,059% more, an average inflation rate of 3.66% a year over 68 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.73 bought in 1958. Cash kept under the mattress since 1958 has lost 91% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1953$250.920.8%
1954$249.060.7%
1955$249.99-0.4%
1956$246.311.5%
1957$238.423.3%
1958$231.822.8%
1959$230.230.7%
1960$226.341.7%
1961$224.071.0%
1962$221.841.0%
1963$218.941.3%

How $20 from 1958 grew

$0.00$50$100$150$200$25019601970198019902000201020202026.625: $232
$20 from 1958 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1958 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1958 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$232.06
Rent$238.83
Gasoline$306.16
Medical care$575.73
New cars$71.74
Electricity$213.10
Clothing$61.32

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1958 has the same buying power as

$231.82 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,059.1% in total, an average of 3.66% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1958 worth today?
$20 in 1958 is worth $231.82 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1958?
You would need $231.82 to buy what $20 bought in 1958. That is 11.59 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1958?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1958 buys only what $1.73 of 1958 money bought. It has lost 91% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1958?
Prices rose 2.8% in 1958. Since then the average has been 3.66% a year.

Other amounts from 1958

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1958