$20 in 2004 is worth $35.47 today

$20 in 2004 has the same buying power as

$35.47 in August 2026

That is 77% more, an average inflation rate of 2.62% a year over 22 years.

Put the other way, $20 today buys what $11.28 bought in 2004. Cash kept under the mattress since 2004 has lost 44% of its value.

$20 from nearby years

$20 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
2008$31.123.8%
2009$31.23-0.4%

How $20 from 2004 grew

$0.00$10$20$30$40200520102015202020252026.625: $35
$20 from 2004 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 2004 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 2004 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$37.64
Rent$42.56
Gasoline$45.05
Medical care$38.25
New cars$26.22
College tuition$44.67
Electricity$43.64
Clothing$22.72

Try a different amount or date

$20.00 in 2004 has the same buying power as

$35.47 in August 2026

Prices rose 77.3% in total, an average of 2.62% a year.

Questions

How much is $20 in 2004 worth today?
$20 in 2004 is worth $35.47 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $20 in 2004?
You would need $35.47 to buy what $20 bought in 2004. That is 1.77 times as much.
How much buying power has $20 lost since 2004?
Kept as cash, $20 from 2004 buys only what $11.28 of 2004 money bought. It has lost 44% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 2004?
Prices rose 2.7% in 2004. Since then the average has been 2.62% a year.

Other amounts from 2004

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 2004