Inflation calculator
See how inflation changes what money buys over the years.
| Years | Cost of $1,000 today | Buying power |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | $1,159 | $863 |
| 10 | $1,344 | $744 |
| 20 | $1,806 | $554 |
| 30 | $2,427 | $412 |
How it works
Future cost equals today’s amount times one plus the inflation rate, raised to the number of years. Buying power is the reverse: what your money is worth in today’s dollars.
Inflation varies from year to year. The rate you enter is an assumption, not a forecast.
Example
With the sample inputs shown above (Amount today ($) = 1000; Annual inflation (%) = 3; Years = 10), the calculator returns: Same purchase costs: $1,344 (In 10 years); Your money buys: $744 (In today’s dollars); Buying power lost: 26%.
Things to know
Compare the inflation rate you choose with what your savings earn. If an account pays less than inflation, your money loses buying power even as the balance grows. Try several rates to see how sensitive the result is.