$20 in 1921 is worth $374.28 today

$20 in 1921 has the same buying power as

$374.28 in August 2026

That is 1,771% more, an average inflation rate of 2.83% a year over 105 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.07 bought in 1921. Cash kept under the mattress since 1921 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1924$391.790.0%
1925$382.832.3%
1926$378.511.1%

How $20 from 1921 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400194019601980200020202026.625: $374
$20 from 1921 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1921 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1921 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$440.78
Rent$285.08
Electricity$143.21
Clothing$82.38

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1921 has the same buying power as

$374.28 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,771.4% in total, an average of 2.83% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1921 worth today?
$20 in 1921 is worth $374.28 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1921?
You would need $374.28 to buy what $20 bought in 1921. That is 18.71 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1921?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1921 buys only what $1.07 of 1921 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1921?
Prices rose -10.5% in 1921. Since then the average has been 2.83% a year.

Other amounts from 1921

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1921