$20 in 2002 is worth $37.24 today

$20 in 2002 has the same buying power as

$37.24 in August 2026

That is 86% more, an average inflation rate of 2.61% a year over 24 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $10.74 bought in 2002. Cash kept under the mattress since 2002 has lost 46% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1997$41.742.3%
1998$41.101.6%
1999$40.212.2%
2000$38.913.4%
2001$37.832.8%
2002$37.241.6%
2003$36.412.3%
2004$35.472.7%
2005$34.303.4%
2006$33.233.2%
2007$32.312.8%

How $20 from 2002 grew

$0.00$10$20$30$40200520102015202020252026.625: $37
$20 from 2002 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 2002 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 2002 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$39.78
Rent$44.97
Gasoline$62.02
Medical care$41.53
New cars$25.67
College tuition$53.01
Electricity$45.53
Clothing$22.06

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 2002 has the same buying power as

$37.24 in August 2026

Prices rose 86.2% in total, an average of 2.61% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 2002 worth today?
$20 in 2002 is worth $37.24 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 2002?
You would need $37.24 to buy what $20 bought in 2002. That is 1.86 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 2002?
Kept as cash, $20 from 2002 buys only what $10.74 of 2002 money bought. It has lost 46% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 2002?
Prices rose 1.6% in 2002. Since then the average has been 2.61% a year.

Other amounts from 2002

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 2002