Boston, Massachusetts prices: $20 in 2009 $28.73 in 2024

Inflation in Massachusetts

$

Prices in Boston, 2009-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Boston, Massachusetts are 43.63% higher in 2024 versus 2009 (a $8.73 difference in value).

Between 2009 and 2024: Boston experienced an average inflation rate of 2.44% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20 in Boston in the year 2009 would cost $28.73 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.56% during this same period, inflation in Boston was lower.

In the year 2009: Pricing changed by -0.81%, which is significantly below the average yearly change in Boston during the 2009-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2009 (-0.36%), inflation in Boston was lower.

Price Inflation in Boston, Massachusetts since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.27%), 1918 (17.79%), and 1920 (17.25%).

View price changes for other categories
New cars · Food · Bread · Rent of primary residence · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 2009

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Boston, 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$20.00-0.81%
2010$20.331.64%
2011$20.872.65%
2012$21.201.62%
2013$21.501.39%
2014$21.851.64%
2015$21.990.63%
2016$22.291.38%
2017$22.862.55%
2018$23.603.23%
2019$24.072.01%
2020$24.331.08%
2021$25.083.09%
2022$26.897.21%
2023$27.903.74%
2024$28.732.97%*

* 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 Boston, Massachusetts:

Year191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI10.50010.51710.81712.27514.45817.53320.55818.71717.05817.31717.43317.62518.27518.08317.73317.65017.52516.16714.57513.60814.03314.32514.40814.73314.35814.14214.27514.90816.50017.36717.55817.91719.38322.06723.88323.59223.90025.50026.05826.12526.22526.35027.07528.02528.92529.15029.70030.15030.80031.42531.85032.45033.45034.32535.67537.65039.95042.07543.57546.00050.75055.32559.82562.87566.23372.90082.15091.48395.40099.617104.517109.150112.133116.917123.783131.000138.583144.867148.400152.817154.750158.467163.100167.800171.583175.733183.267191.383196.267203.533209.367216.000222.900227.096235.423233.509237.341243.629247.564251.007255.125256.743260.282266.921275.531281.063284.089292.873313.978325.718335.380

Adjust Boston prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 2009 * 2009 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Boston, Massachusetts was 233.509 in the year 2009 and 335.380 in 2024:

335.380 / 233.509 * $20 = $28.73

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2009 has the same "purchasing power" as $28.73 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Boston, Massachusetts).


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

» Read more about inflation and investment.