San Francisco, California prices: $20 in 2018 → $24.42 in 2024

Inflation in California

$

Prices in San Francisco, 2018-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in San Francisco, California are 22.08% higher in 2024 versus 2018 (a $4.42 difference in value).

Between 2018 and 2024: San Francisco experienced an average inflation rate of 3.38% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20 in San Francisco in the year 2018 would cost $24.42 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.77% during this same period, inflation in San Francisco was lower.

In the year 2018: Pricing changed by 3.84%, which is above the average yearly change in San Francisco during the 2018-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2018 (2.44%), 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%).
View price changes for other categories
Alcoholic beverages · Frankfurters · Gasoline (all types) · Food · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 2018

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in San Francisco, over time, for $20 beginning in 2018. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2018$20.003.84%
2019$20.663.32%
2020$21.031.75%
2021$21.703.19%
2022$22.905.54%
2023$23.753.70%
2024$24.422.81%*

* 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
CPI9.2009.2009.26710.13311.80814.58316.91715.56714.66714.63314.70814.99215.12514.99214.85814.89214.68313.60012.47511.85812.20812.43312.35012.77512.83312.68312.65813.35014.95815.95016.35816.81718.15020.48321.95822.04221.92523.64224.57525.02525.07524.90025.35826.43327.40827.94228.51728.89229.33329.75030.20830.77531.52532.41733.85035.63337.54238.96740.32542.56746.53351.40054.41758.38364.13369.40080.10090.19297.58398.233103.783108.200111.567115.392120.500126.350132.050137.908142.500146.342148.650151.567155.067160.383165.350172.175179.783189.658192.867196.358198.633202.542208.950215.714222.768224.158227.327233.113239.434244.766251.713258.144266.042274.738285.297294.779299.949309.519326.676338.768348.279

Adjust San Francisco prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 2018 * 2018 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for San Francisco, California was 285.297 in the year 2018 and 348.279 in 2024:

348.279 / 285.297 * $20 = $24.42

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2018 has the same "purchasing power" as $24.42 in 2024 (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.

» Read more about inflation and investment.