$20 in 1993 is worth $46.36 today

$20 in 1993 has the same buying power as

$46.36 in August 2026

That is 132% more, an average inflation rate of 2.57% a year over 33 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $8.63 bought in 1993. Cash kept under the mattress since 1993 has lost 57% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1997$41.742.3%
1998$41.101.6%

How $20 from 1993 grew

$0.00$10$20$30$40$5019952000200520102015202020252026.625: $46
$20 from 1993 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1993 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1993 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$49.74
Rent$59.75
Gasoline$73.64
Medical care$58.89
New cars$27.09
College tuition$84.59
Electricity$48.94
Clothing$20.46

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1993 has the same buying power as

$46.36 in August 2026

Prices rose 131.8% in total, an average of 2.57% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1993 worth today?
$20 in 1993 is worth $46.36 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1993?
You would need $46.36 to buy what $20 bought in 1993. That is 2.32 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1993?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1993 buys only what $8.63 of 1993 money bought. It has lost 57% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1993?
Prices rose 3.0% in 1993. Since then the average has been 2.57% a year.

Other amounts from 1993

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1993