$20 in 1927 is worth $385.03 today

$20 in 1927 has the same buying power as

$385.03 in August 2026

That is 1,825% more, an average inflation rate of 3.03% a year over 99 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $1.04 bought in 1927. Cash kept under the mattress since 1927 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1932$489.02-9.9%

How $20 from 1927 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400194019601980200020202026.625: $385
$20 from 1927 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1927 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1927 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$427.34
Rent$266.47
Electricity$155.03
Clothing$108.10

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1927 has the same buying power as

$385.03 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,825.2% in total, an average of 3.03% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1927 worth today?
$20 in 1927 is worth $385.03 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1927?
You would need $385.03 to buy what $20 bought in 1927. That is 19.25 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1927?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1927 buys only what $1.04 of 1927 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1927?
Prices rose -1.7% in 1927. Since then the average has been 3.03% a year.

Other amounts from 1927

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1927