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Inflation Calculator

Inflation reduces what your money can buy. See how much today's amount would need to grow to keep the same purchasing power, or what it will be worth in the future.

How it works Report a problem

Inflation Calculator

Calculate the future value of money or see how purchasing power has declined

$0
Future Cost of Same Goods
Based on compounding inflation
Total Increase
0%
Purchasing Power
$0
Cumulative Loss
$0
Purchasing Power Erosion

Inflation quietly reprices everything, including your savings goals. This calculator shows what a sum of money will need to be in future years to buy the same things, and what a fixed amount left idle will really be worth.

How to use this calculator

  • Enter today's amount or cost.
  • Add an expected inflation rate (long-run averages are often 2 to 4%).
  • Enter the number of years ahead.
  • Press calculate to see the future cost and the loss of buying power.

Why idle cash shrinks

Money under the mattress loses value at the inflation rate every year. At 3% inflation, prices roughly double in about 24 years, so cash kept "safe" for a long goal can quietly fall short of it. The practical lesson is that long-term savings need a return at least matching inflation just to stand still.

Frequently asked questions

What inflation rate should I use?
Use your country's recent long-run average as a starting point, and test a point higher and lower. Food, housing and education often inflate faster than the headline figure.
Is inflation the same for everyone?
No. Your personal inflation depends on your spending mix: renters, drivers and parents of students each experience different price changes.
How does this affect retirement saving?
Your target must be in future money, not today's. A retirement that costs a certain amount now will cost far more in 25 years at even modest inflation.