Inflation calculator
A future price, and what today's money could buy, at a steady inflation rate.
About 2% to 3% is a common long-run planning figure.
Cost then
$38,949.19
At 3% a year, today's $25,000.00 buys $16,046.55 of the same goods then.
- Cost today
- $25,000.00
- Buying power
- $16,046.55
- Price increase
- $13,949.19
Prices keep rising. See what that does to your year.
Forecast 12 months of bills against paydays as costs creep up.
Start free 14-day trialHow this number is calculated
The future cost is today's price compounded once a year at the inflation rate, for the number of years you enter. The result is rounded to the cent at the end.
Buying power is the reverse: how much of today's goods the same amount of money would cover after those years. Inflation rarely stays constant. The rate is an assumption you can change, not a forecast.
Common questions
What inflation rate should I use?
A long-run planning figure many people use is about 2% to 3% a year. Use a higher rate for a cost that has been rising faster than overall prices, such as rent, childcare, or medical care in your area.
Is this the same as an investment return?
No. Inflation is the rise in prices. An investment return is what your savings earn. If the return is lower than inflation, the savings buy less later even when the balance is higher. The retirement calculator shows the balance. This page shows the prices.
Why does buying power fall?
The same pile of money covers fewer of today's goods after prices rise. Buying power is today's amount divided by the same compound factor that raises the future cost.
Other calculators
This is an estimate for planning, not financial, tax, or lending advice. Nothing you type is saved. Ampluent forecasts the cash in a household day by day from paychecks, bills, and cards. See Ampluent