📈 Inflation Calculator
Enter an amount, an average yearly inflation rate and a number of years. You get the future price of the same goods and what today's money will really be worth.
How the Inflation Calculator works
Prices grow by the inflation rate every year, compounding like interest. Buying power is the reverse: the same dollars buy less each year.
Step-by-step calculation
- 1Enter an amount.
- 2Enter the average inflation rate and years.
- 3Apply compound growth for future cost and divide for buying power.
Worked example
$1,000 with 3% yearly inflation for 10 years: future cost = 1,000 × 1.03¹⁰ = $1,343.92, and $1,000 will buy only what $744.09 buys today.
Inflation Calculator examples
| Amount ($) | Future cost |
|---|---|
| 500 | $671.96 |
| 750 | $1,007.94 |
| 1,000 | $1,343.92 |
| 1,250 | $1,679.90 |
| 1,500 | $2,015.87 |
Other inputs kept at the calculator's default values. Results calculated by this calculator.
Why use an Inflation Calculator?
Plan for rising prices in savings, retirement and salary decisions.
Important factors that can affect your results
- Real inflation changes every year.
- Different items rise at different speeds.
- Your personal spending mix.
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use?
The US Federal Reserve targets 2% a year over the long run. Past US inflation has averaged a little above 3% a year, but it changes a lot year to year.
Does this use official CPI data?
No. It uses the average rate you enter, so it works for any country and any future scenario.
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Last reviewed November 2026 · How we build and check our tools · Report a problem