Inflation Calculator
See what a price will cost after years of inflation, and what an amount of money will buy later. It uses the steady inflation rate you enter and runs in your browser.
Also searched as: purchasing power calculator · future cost calculator · value of money over time · cost of living inflation calculator
Updated November 9, 2026
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How to use it
- 1
Enter an amount
Type the amount in money of today.
- 2
Add the rate and years
Enter the yearly inflation rate and the number of years.
- 3
Read both results
See the future cost, and what the same money will buy then.
Questions about inflation calculator
Does it use real inflation data?
No. It uses the steady rate you type, such as 3%. Real inflation changes each year.
What do the two results mean?
One is what the same goods will cost in the future. The other is how much your money will buy then, measured against prices of today.
Can I use a negative rate?
Yes, to model falling prices.
What steady inflation does to money
At 3% a year, something that costs 1,000 today costs 1,806.11 in 20 years. Turned around, 1,000 kept for 20 years will buy only what 553.68 buys today. Money held in an account that pays less than inflation loses buying power in the same way.
The table shows the future cost of something that costs 1,000 today, at a few steady rates.
| Years | At 2% | At 3% | At 4% | At 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1,219 | 1,344 | 1,480 | 1,629 |
| 20 | 1,486 | 1,806 | 2,191 | 2,653 |
| 30 | 1,811 | 2,427 | 3,243 | 4,322 |
| 40 | 2,208 | 3,262 | 4,801 | 7,040 |
Using it for planning
To estimate a future cost, enter today’s price, the rate you expect and the number of years. A yearly spend of 50,000 today would be about 92,697 a year in 25 years at 2.5%.
The tool uses the steady rate you type and holds no historical price data. Real inflation changes from year to year, and prices for housing, food and tuition rise at different speeds, so test a few rates for a long plan.
Return after inflation
Inflation matters most next to what your money earns. Savings earning 6% a year while prices rise 3% grow your buying power by about 2.91% a year, not 3%. Savings that earn less than the inflation rate lose buying power even while the balance rises.
This is why long-term plans such as retirement are usually worked out in today’s money, using a return after inflation. The FIRE calculator on this site asks for a return after inflation for that reason.