$20 in 1933 is worth $515.35 today

$20 in 1933 has the same buying power as

$515.35 in August 2026

That is 2,477% more, an average inflation rate of 3.55% a year over 93 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $0.78 bought in 1933. Cash kept under the mattress since 1933 has lost 96% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
1937$465.253.6%
1938$475.15-2.1%

How $20 from 1933 grew

$0.00$100$200$300$400$500$600194019601980200020202026.625: $515
$20 from 1933 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 1933 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 1933 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$673.88
Rent$392.14
Electricity$172.73
Clothing$145.48

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 1933 has the same buying power as

$515.35 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,476.8% in total, an average of 3.55% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 1933 worth today?
$20 in 1933 is worth $515.35 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 1933?
You would need $515.35 to buy what $20 bought in 1933. That is 25.77 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 1933?
Kept as cash, $20 from 1933 buys only what $0.78 of 1933 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1933?
Prices rose -5.1% in 1933. Since then the average has been 3.55% a year.

Other amounts from 1933

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1933