Result: R100 in 1994 → R410.89 in 2020
Value of R100 from 1994 to 2020
R100 in 1994 is equivalent in purchasing power to about R410.89 in 2020, an increase of R310.89 over 26 years. The rand had an average inflation rate of 5.59% per year between 1994 and 2020, producing a cumulative price increase of 310.89%.
This means that prices in 2020 are 4.11 times as high as average prices since 1994, according to the OECD and the World Bank consumer price index for South Africa.
The inflation rate in 1994 was 8.94%. The inflation rate in 2020 was 3.21%. The 2020 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 5.88% per year between 2020 and 2024.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | 310.89% |
| Average inflation rate | 5.59% |
| Converted amount R100 base | R410.89 |
| Price difference R100 base | R310.89 |
| CPI in 1994 | 30.641 |
| CPI in 2020 | 125.903 |
| Inflation in 1994 | 8.94% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 3.21% |
| R100 in 1994 | R410.89 in 2020 |
Buying power of R100 in 1994
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for R100 in 1994 (price index tracking began in 1957).
For example, if you started with R100, you would need to end with R410.89 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When R100 is equivalent to R410.89 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single South African rand decreases over time. In other words, a rand will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a rand over time. By calculating the value in 1994 dollars, the chart below shows how R100 is worth less over 26 years.
According to the OECD and the World Bank, each of these ZAR amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1994 amounts in 2020 rand, based on the 310.89% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| R1 rand in 1994 | R4.11 rand in 2020 |
| R5 rand in 1994 | R20.54 rand in 2020 |
| R10 rand in 1994 | R41.09 rand in 2020 |
| R50 rand in 1994 | R205.45 rand in 2020 |
| R100 rand in 1994 | R410.89 rand in 2020 |
| R500 rand in 1994 | R2,054.47 rand in 2020 |
| R1,000 rand in 1994 | R4,108.93 rand in 2020 |
| R5,000 rand in 1994 | R20,544.67 rand in 2020 |
| R10,000 rand in 1994 | R41,089.34 rand in 2020 |
| R50,000 rand in 1994 | R205,446.70 rand in 2020 |
| R100,000 rand in 1994 | R410,893.41 rand in 2020 |
| R500,000 rand in 1994 | R2,054,467.05 rand in 2020 |
| R1,000,000 rand in 1994 | R4,108,934.09 rand in 2020 |
How to calculate inflation rate for R100, 1994 to 2020
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1994 and 2020:
CPI in 2020 CPI in 1994
×
1994 ZAR value
=
2020 ZAR value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The South African CPI was 30.64128 in the year 1994 and 125.903 in 2020:
125.90330.64128
×
R100
=
R410.89
R100 in 1994 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as R410.89 in 2020.
To get the total inflation rate for the 26 years between 1994 and 2020, we use the following formula:
CPI in 2020 - CPI in 1994CPI in 1994
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (26 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
125.903 - 30.6412830.64128
×
100
=
311%
Data source & citation
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “R100 in 1994 → 2020 | South Africa Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 15 Dec. 2025, https://www.officialdata.org/south-africa/inflation/1994?amount=100&endYear=2020.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 310.89% |
| Average inflation rate | 5.59% |
| Converted amount R100 base | R410.89 |
| Price difference R100 base | R310.89 |
| CPI in 1994 | 30.641 |
| CPI in 2020 | 125.903 |
| Inflation in 1994 | 8.94% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 3.21% |
| R100 in 1994 | R410.89 in 2020 |