$20 in 1931 is worth $440.76 today

$20 in 1931 has the same buying power as

$440.76 in August 2026

That is 2,104% more, an average inflation rate of 3.30% a year over 95 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $0.91 bought in 1931. Cash kept under the mattress since 1931 has lost 95% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1933$515.35-5.1%
1934$499.973.1%
1935$489.022.2%
1936$481.991.5%

How $20 from 1931 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400$500194019601980200020202026.625: $441
$20 from 1931 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1931 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1931 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$543.28
Rent$303.38
Electricity$169.43
Clothing$124.32

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1931 has the same buying power as

$440.76 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,103.8% in total, an average of 3.30% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1931 worth today?
$20 in 1931 is worth $440.76 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1931?
You would need $440.76 to buy what $20 bought in 1931. That is 22.04 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1931?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1931 buys only what $0.91 of 1931 money bought. It has lost 95% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1931?
Prices rose -9.0% in 1931. Since then the average has been 3.30% a year.

Other amounts from 1931

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1931