Year-by-year table
| Year | Future cost | Buying power |
|---|
Uses a constant average inflation rate. Real inflation changes from year to year, and prices of individual items rise at different speeds. For education only, not financial advice.
What this future inflation calculator does
This future inflation calculator shows how rising prices change the value of money over time. Enter an amount, a number of years and an average inflation rate, and you'll see:
- what something that costs that amount today could cost in the future
- how much buying power today's money will have in the future
- the share of buying power lost
- how many years it takes for prices to double
- the return you'd need just to keep up
It's useful for planning savings goals, retirement, salary expectations or any long-term purchase.
How to use it
- Currency: choose your currency. This only changes the symbol.
- Amount today: the price or amount of money you want to look at, for example $100.
- Years from now: how far ahead you want to look.
- Average yearly inflation: the rate you expect prices to rise each year. Try a few different rates, such as 2%, 3% and 4%, to see a range of outcomes.
Open the year-by-year table to see the values for each year.
How the calculation works
The calculator uses two simple formulas:
Future cost = amount × (1 + inflation rate)^years
Buying power = amount ÷ (1 + inflation rate)^years
Example: at 3% inflation for 20 years, (1.03)^20 ≈ 1.806.
- Something that costs $100 today could cost about $180.61.
- $100 in 20 years would buy about $55.37 worth of today's goods.
The doubling time uses the exact formula ln(2) ÷ ln(1 + rate). At 3%, prices double in about 23.4 years.
Example results
| Inflation | $100 item costs in 20 years | Buying power of $100 after 20 years | Prices double in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | about $148.59 | about $67.30 | about 35 years |
| 3% | about $180.61 | about $55.37 | about 23.4 years |
| 4% | about $219.11 | about $45.64 | about 17.7 years |
For a full explanation, read our guide: what will $100 be worth in 20 years?
Why inflation matters for your plans
- Savings: money earning less than inflation loses buying power every year.
- Retirement: a target that looks big today may buy much less in 30 years.
- Salary: your pay needs to rise with prices just to keep your standard of living.
- Big purchases: the price of a home, car or education will usually rise over time.
To see how investing can help you stay ahead of rising prices, try our compound interest calculator, or plan a target with the savings goal calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use?
Many central banks aim for about 2% a year, but actual inflation varies. Test a few rates, such as 2%, 3% and 4%, to see a realistic range.
Is this a historical inflation calculator?
No. It projects the future using an average rate you choose. To compare past prices, official statistics agencies publish historical calculators, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI Inflation Calculator.
What is the difference between future cost and buying power?
Future cost shows what today's prices could rise to. Buying power shows what today's money will be able to buy in the future. They're two views of the same effect.
How can I protect my money from inflation?
Keep emergency savings in a high-yield account, and invest money for long-term goals in diversified, low-cost investments that have historically grown faster than inflation over long periods.
Is my data saved?
No. The calculator runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is stored.
Related guides
- How compound interest works
- How long it takes to double your money at 7 percent
- All free money calculators
This calculator is for education only and is not financial advice. It assumes a constant inflation rate. Real inflation changes from year to year, and individual prices rise at different speeds.