$20 in 1918 is worth $443.68 today

$20 in 1918 has the same buying power as

$443.68 in August 2026

That is 2,118% more, an average inflation rate of 2.91% a year over 108 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $0.90 bought in 1918. Cash kept under the mattress since 1918 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1913$676.73
1914$669.961.0%
1915$663.331.0%
1916$614.647.9%
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%

How $20 from 1918 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400$5001920194019601980200020202026.625: $444
$20 from 1918 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1918 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1918 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$419.66
Rent$417.67
Electricity$150.88
Clothing$100.18

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1918 has the same buying power as

$443.68 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,118.4% in total, an average of 2.91% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1918 worth today?
$20 in 1918 is worth $443.68 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1918?
You would need $443.68 to buy what $20 bought in 1918. That is 22.18 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1918?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1918 buys only what $0.90 of 1918 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1918?
Prices rose 18.0% in 1918. Since then the average has been 2.91% a year.

Other amounts from 1918

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1918