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Inflation calculator
Enter an amount, a number of years and an inflation rate. See the future price and the lost purchasing power.
EXAMPLE ESTIMATE
Your estimate
Enter your values and select Calculate.
Estimates use your assumptions. Calculations use unrounded values; displayed figures are rounded.
HOW IT WORKS
A useful estimate starts with clear inputs.
- Step 1
Enter an amount in today’s money and how many years ahead you want to look.
- Step 2
Enter an average yearly inflation rate. Try more than one, because the future rate is uncertain.
- Step 3
Calculate to see the future cost of the same goods and how much your money would buy then.
At 2% inflation, something that costs 1,000 today would cost about 1,219 in 10 years.
Calculation assumptions and limits
A constant average inflation rate compounded yearly. Real inflation changes from year to year and differs between goods, so your own costs may rise faster or slower than an average. Investment returns, taxes and wage growth are excluded.
Can I use this with my local currency?
Yes. All inputs in one calculation must use the same currency. The currency selector changes number formatting and labels; it does not look up exchange rates or convert your amounts. Local loan rules and products may calculate costs differently.
Are my numbers saved?
No. Your inputs and results stay in this page’s memory. Reloading or leaving clears them. Download the CSV or print the result if you want a copy.
Learn more: BLS: CPI inflation calculator. WORDMIO calculates locally using the assumptions above.
See how rising prices change what your money buys
Inflation means the same goods cost more over time, so the same amount of money buys less. Over a few years the effect looks small. Over decades it is large.
Enter an amount in today’s money, a number of years and an average yearly inflation rate. The calculator shows what the same goods would cost in the future and what your original amount would buy then, in today’s money. A chart and a table show the change year by year.
Free to use. No sign-up required.
How to use this tool
- Enter an amount in today’s money.
- Enter the number of years and an average yearly inflation rate.
- Calculate to see the future price of the same goods and your lost buying power.
A practical example
At 2% inflation, something that costs 1,000 today would cost about 1,219 in 10 years.
Before you finish
Try more than one rate. Real inflation changes from year to year and differs between goods.
How inflation compounds
Inflation is a yearly percentage, so it compounds like interest. At 3% a year, prices are about 34% higher after ten years and about 81% higher after twenty. The calculator multiplies your amount by one plus the rate for each year, and divides to show purchasing power. The table lets you see every year or every five years for long periods.
Future cost versus buying power
These are two views of the same fact. Future cost answers: what will something that costs the amount today cost then? Buying power answers: what will the amount I hold today be worth then, in today’s money? A fixed sum of cash loses buying power at the inflation rate, which is why money left idle for decades buys much less.
Using it for long-term planning
Inflation matters most for goals that are far away, such as retirement or a child’s education. A goal stated in today’s money needs a larger amount in the future. The retirement calculator includes inflation automatically, and the compound interest calculator helps you see whether growth keeps up.
Choosing a rate
Long-run averages differ between countries and decades, and the rate you experience depends on what you buy. Try a low, a middle and a high case. If a plan only works at the lowest rate, it may be too fragile.
Frequently asked questions
Which inflation rate should I use?
Use the long-run average for your country or test several rates, such as 2%, 3% and 5%. The future rate is uncertain, so a range is more useful than a single number.
What is purchasing power?
It is how much a sum of money can buy. If prices rise 3% a year, the same amount buys about 26% less after ten years.
Does this use official statistics?
No. It applies the average rate you enter. For historical figures use your national statistics office. The source link on the page points to one example.
Why does my own cost of living rise faster?
Averages combine many goods. Housing, education, health or energy can rise faster than the average, depending on where and how you live.
How does it help with savings goals?
If savings earn less than inflation, they lose buying power. Compare the inflation figure with the rate you earn after tax and fees.
Can I use a negative rate?
Yes, between −10% and 50%. A negative rate models falling prices, so your money buys more over time.