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Inflation Calculator

See how inflation affects purchasing power over time — and what something costing money today could cost in the future.

Your inputs

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

$

E.g. the price of something today, or your savings.

%

An assumption, not a forecast. Long-run average is often 2–3% in many economies.

years

Whole years, 1–100.

Your result

Future price of $1,000 today
$1,344
after 10 years at 3%
Purchasing power left
$744
Eroded by inflation
$256

Estimate from a smooth fixed rate. Real inflation varies year to year. Educational estimate, not financial advice.

Prices rise, money shrinks

$0$336$672$1K$1.3KStartYear 5Year 10
Future pricePurchasing power
Year 10

Future price: $1,344 · Purchasing power: $744

Year-by-year breakdown

Same model as the headline result. Values rounded for display.
YearFuture pricePurchasing power
1$1,030$971
2$1,061$943
3$1,093$915
4$1,126$888
5$1,159$863
6$1,194$837
7$1,230$813
8$1,267$789
9$1,305$766
10$1,344$744

How it works

With an annual inflation assumption r over y years, prices multiply by (1+r)y while each unit of money buys proportionally less:

  • Future price = amount × (1+r)y
  • Purchasing power = amount / (1+r)y

A worked example

$1,000 today, at 3% annual inflation for 10 years: a$1,000 basket would cost $1,344, and$1,000 kept as cash would buy only $744 worth of today's goods. Generated by the same engine as the live calculator above.

Limits

  • A single smooth rate — real inflation varies year to year and across goods.
  • Figures are illustrative, not forecasts of actual prices.
  • Not personalized financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is purchasing power?

Purchasing power is what your money can actually buy. Inflation shrinks it: if prices rise 3% a year, $100 today buys what about $97 buys next year. The account balance looks the same — the groceries don't.

Why show both future price and purchasing power?

They're two views of one force. Future price shows what today's items will cost; purchasing power shows what today's money will buy. Together they explain why long-term cash savings drift backward.

What inflation rate should I assume?

There's no correct answer — that's the point of the input. Many economies average 2–3% over long stretches, but individual decades vary widely. Try several rates and compare; the range matters more than any single guess.

Is this financial advice?

No. This calculator illustrates an assumption you enter. It predicts nothing. See the disclaimer.