$20 in 1923 is worth $391.79 today

$20 in 1923 has the same buying power as

$391.79 in August 2026

That is 1,859% more, an average inflation rate of 2.93% a year over 103 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.02 bought in 1923. Cash kept under the mattress since 1923 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1927$385.03-1.7%
1928$391.79-1.7%

How $20 from 1923 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400194019601980200020202026.625: $392
$20 from 1923 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1923 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1923 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$455.09
Rent$270.48
Electricity$148.00
Clothing$100.92

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1923 has the same buying power as

$391.79 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,858.9% in total, an average of 2.93% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1923 worth today?
$20 in 1923 is worth $391.79 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1923?
You would need $391.79 to buy what $20 bought in 1923. That is 19.59 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1923?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1923 buys only what $1.02 of 1923 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1923?
Prices rose 1.8% in 1923. Since then the average has been 2.93% a year.

Other amounts from 1923

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1923