$20 in 2008 is worth $31.12 today
$20 in 2008 has the same buying power as
$31.12 in August 2026
That is 56% more, an average inflation rate of 2.47% a year over 18 years.
Put the other way, $20 today buys what $12.85 bought in 2008. Cash kept under the mattress since 2008 has lost 36% of its value.
$20 from nearby years
| $20 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 2008 | $31.12 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $31.23 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $30.72 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $29.78 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $29.18 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $28.76 | 1.5% |
How $20 from 2008 grew
$20 of 2008 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 2008 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $32.73 |
| Rent | $36.91 |
| Gasoline | $25.93 |
| Medical care | $32.58 |
| New cars | $26.78 |
| College tuition | $34.51 |
| Electricity | $33.14 |
| Clothing | $23.00 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $20 in 2008 worth today?
- $20 in 2008 is worth $31.12 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $20 in 2008?
- You would need $31.12 to buy what $20 bought in 2008. That is 1.56 times as much.
- How much buying power has $20 lost since 2008?
- Kept as cash, $20 from 2008 buys only what $12.85 of 2008 money bought. It has lost 36% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 2008?
- Prices rose 3.8% in 2008. Since then the average has been 2.47% a year.
Other amounts from 2008
- $1 in 2008
- $5 in 2008
- $10 in 2008
- $50 in 2008
- $100 in 2008
- $500 in 2008
- $1,000 in 2008
- $5,000 in 2008
- $10,000 in 2008
- $20,000 in 2008
- $50,000 in 2008
- $100,000 in 2008
- $1 million in 2008