Inflation Calculator
What is today's money worth in the future — and what will tomorrow's prices cost?
Future value of your money:
Buying power of $1 then vs now:
What $100 today buys in future:
Purchasing power over time
How to use this calculator
Enter an amount, the number of years and an inflation rate, then press Calculate. You'll see the future value, the equivalent buying power, and a chart of purchasing power decline.
What the result means
Future value is what the same amount buys later — less than today. This is why long-term savings need growth above inflation to preserve purchasing power.
What the tool does
It compounds an inflation rate over a number of years to show what a given amount will be worth - or, flipped around, how much you will need in the future to match today's purchasing power. A 3% rate compounds exactly like an investment return, just in reverse.
Worked example
$100 today at 3% inflation is worth about $134 in ten years - meaning $100 then buys what $75 buys now. Planning a $50,000 expense in today's dollars for 2036 means budgeting closer to $67,000.
Why the rate matters so much
Small rate differences compound into big gaps: at 2% inflation, $100 erodes to $82 in ten years; at 4% it erodes to $68. Use a realistic long-run rate for your country - 2-3% is typical for developed economies over decades.
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use?
Long-term US inflation averages around 3%. For conservative planning, use 3-4%.
How does inflation affect my savings?
Money that grows slower than inflation loses purchasing power. That's the core case for investing rather than holding cash long-term.
Does inflation apply to everything equally?
No. Education, healthcare and housing have historically outpaced the average; electronics fall. Your personal inflation rate depends on what you actually buy.