$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 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | $41.74 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $41.10 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $40.21 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $38.91 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $37.83 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $37.24 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $36.41 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $35.47 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $34.30 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $33.23 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $32.31 | 2.8% |
How $20 from 2002 grew
$20 of 2002 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 2002 costs today:
| Category | Cost 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
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
- $1 in 2002
- $5 in 2002
- $10 in 2002
- $50 in 2002
- $100 in 2002
- $500 in 2002
- $1,000 in 2002
- $5,000 in 2002
- $10,000 in 2002
- $20,000 in 2002
- $50,000 in 2002
- $100,000 in 2002
- $1 million in 2002