$20 in 1991 is worth $49.19 today

$20 in 1991 has the same buying power as

$49.19 in August 2026

That is 146% more, an average inflation rate of 2.60% a year over 35 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $8.13 bought in 1991. Cash kept under the mattress since 1991 has lost 59% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1986$61.131.9%
1987$58.983.6%
1988$56.634.1%
1989$54.034.8%
1990$51.265.4%
1991$49.194.2%
1992$47.753.0%
1993$46.363.0%
1994$45.212.6%
1995$43.962.8%
1996$42.703.0%

How $20 from 1991 grew

$0.00$10$20$30$40$5019952000200520102015202020252026.625: $49
$20 from 1991 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1991 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1991 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$51.42
Rent$62.67
Gasoline$72.53
Medical care$67.01
New cars$28.53
College tuition$102.44
Electricity$50.91
Clothing$21.25

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1991 has the same buying power as

$49.19 in August 2026

Prices rose 145.9% in total, an average of 2.60% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1991 worth today?
$20 in 1991 is worth $49.19 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1991?
You would need $49.19 to buy what $20 bought in 1991. That is 2.46 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1991?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1991 buys only what $8.13 of 1991 money bought. It has lost 59% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1991?
Prices rose 4.2% in 1991. Since then the average has been 2.60% a year.

Other amounts from 1991

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1991