Inflation Calculator
What money today will be worth later, and vice versa.
Enter your values
ⓘ Live results
Results
- Purchasing power in the future
- $27,683.79
- Equivalent future cost of today's basket
- $90,305.56
- Purchasing power lost
- 44.6%
- Price level multiple
- 1.81×
Quick answer
Inflation erodes purchasing power geometrically: value = amount ÷ (1 + inflation)^years for future purchasing power.
Real value = amount ÷ (1 + i)^t
How to use the Inflation Calculator
- 1Enter the amount of money.
- 2Choose an average inflation rate.
- 3Set how many years forward to project.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Amount50000 $
- Average inflation3 %
- Years20 years
Results
- Purchasing power in the future$27,683.79
- Equivalent future cost of today's basket$90,305.56
- Purchasing power lost44.6%
- Price level multiple1.81×
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use?
US long-run average is roughly 3%. The Federal Reserve targets 2% over the medium term.
Why does a small rate matter?
At 3%, prices double in about 24 years, so a fixed pension loses half its buying power over a typical retirement.
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by James Whitfield · How we build and test calculators
- Report an error
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.