San Francisco, California prices: $20 in 2009 $25.46 in 2018

Inflation in California

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Prices in San Francisco, 2009-2018 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Francisco, California were 27.28% higher in 2018 versus 2009 (a $5.46 difference in value).

Between 2009 and 2018: San Francisco experienced an average inflation rate of 2.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20 in San Francisco in the year 2009 would cost $25.46 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 1.76% during this same period, inflation in San Francisco was higher.

In the year 2009: Pricing changed by 0.62%, which is below the average yearly change in San Francisco during the 2009-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2009 (-0.36%), inflation in San Francisco was higher.

Price Inflation in San Francisco, California since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (23.50%), 1918 (16.53%), and 1920 (16%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2009

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in San Francisco, over time, for $20 beginning in 2009. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2009$20.000.62%
2010$20.281.41%
2011$20.802.55%
2012$21.362.71%
2013$21.842.23%
2014$22.462.84%
2015$23.032.56%
2016$23.743.06%
2017$24.513.27%
2018$25.463.84%
2019$26.303.32%
2020$26.761.75%
2021$27.623.19%
2022$29.155.54%
2023$30.233.70%
2024$30.561.11%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for San Francisco, California:

Year191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.2009.2009.26710.13311.80814.58316.91715.56714.66714.63314.70814.99215.12514.99214.85814.89214.68313.60012.47511.85812.20812.43312.35012.77512.83312.68312.65813.35014.95815.95016.35816.81718.15020.48321.95822.04221.92523.64224.57525.02525.07524.90025.35826.43327.40827.94228.51728.89229.33329.75030.20830.77531.52532.41733.85035.63337.54238.96740.32542.56746.53351.40054.41758.38364.13369.40080.10090.19297.58398.233103.783108.200111.567115.392120.500126.350132.050137.908142.500146.342148.650151.567155.067160.383165.350172.175179.783189.658192.867196.358198.633202.542208.950215.714222.768224.158227.327233.113239.434244.766251.713258.144266.042274.738285.297294.779299.949309.519326.676338.768342.533

Adjust San Francisco prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2018 / CPI in 2009 * 2009 USD value = 2018 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for San Francisco, California was 224.158 in the year 2009 and 285.297 in 2018:

285.297 / 224.158 * $20 = $25.46

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2009 has the same "purchasing power" as $25.46 in 2018 (in the CPI category of San Francisco, California).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for San Francisco, California in 1914. In addition to San Francisco, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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