Inflation calculator
See how inflation changes the future cost — and buying power — of money.
Runs 100% in your browser- Future cost (same goods)
- —
- Worth in today’s money
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- Purchasing power lost
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How to calculate inflation
- Enter an amount. Type the sum of money you want to test.
- Set rate and years. Add an annual inflation rate and a number of years.
- Read both views. See the future cost and today’s purchasing power.
Why inflation matters for savers
Inflation is the quiet headwind on every long-term plan: a balance that grows in dollars can still lose buying power if it doesn’t outpace prices. Compare your expected growth in the compound interest calculator against the inflation rate here, and factor it into your FIRE number.
Educational tool only — not financial advice. Uses a constant rate you enter, not historical CPI.
Frequently asked questions
- It applies a constant annual inflation rate over a number of years. It shows two things: what an amount will cost in the future, and what a future amount is worth in today’s purchasing power.
- Long-run inflation in the US has averaged roughly 2–3%, but it varies. Enter whatever rate you want to model — the result scales directly with it.
- It’s how much your money can actually buy. $100 today buys less in ten years if prices rise — the purchasing-power figure shows that erosion.
- No — it uses the constant rate you enter, not historical CPI tables. That keeps it private and lets you model any scenario.
- No — it computes in your browser.
How does the inflation calculator work?
What inflation rate should I use?
What does “purchasing power” mean?
Is this official CPI data?
Is anything uploaded?
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