$20 in 1926 is worth $378.51 today

$20 in 1926 has the same buying power as

$378.51 in August 2026

That is 1,793% more, an average inflation rate of 2.98% a year over 100 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.06 bought in 1926. Cash kept under the mattress since 1926 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1929$391.790.0%
1930$401.17-2.3%
1931$440.76-9.0%

How $20 from 1926 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400194019601980200020202026.625: $379
$20 from 1926 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1926 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1926 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$412.26
Rent$262.57
Electricity$152.74
Clothing$105.60

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1926 has the same buying power as

$378.51 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,792.5% in total, an average of 2.98% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1926 worth today?
$20 in 1926 is worth $378.51 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1926?
You would need $378.51 to buy what $20 bought in 1926. That is 18.93 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1926?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1926 buys only what $1.06 of 1926 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1926?
Prices rose 1.1% in 1926. Since then the average has been 2.98% a year.

Other amounts from 1926

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1926