$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 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
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%
2010$30.721.6%
2011$29.783.2%
2012$29.182.1%
2013$28.761.5%

How $20 from 2008 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20$25$30$3520102015202020252026.625: $31
$20 from 2008 in each later year's dollars

$20 of 2008 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $20 spent on each of these in 2008 costs today:

CategoryCost 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

$20.00 in 2008 has the same buying power as

$31.12 in August 2026

Prices rose 55.6% in total, an average of 2.47% a year.

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

$20 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 2008