Inflation Calculator
The silent tax you can't see: find out what your money will really buy a few years from now.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
The real cost of inflation
Inflation is the general rise in prices. When prices rise by 3% a year, every dollar you hold quietly loses 3% of its purchasing power. The effect compounds, which is precisely what makes it dangerous to long-term savings sitting in cash.
The calculator works in both directions. It shows what today's amount will be worth in the future, and the amount you would need in the future to match the buying power you have now.
The formulas
Worked example
At 3% inflation over 10 years, a $1,000 cash hoard would only buy about $744 of today's goods, while the stuff you bought for $1,000 today would cost about $1,344.
That real math drives why advisors recommend that long-term money grow rather than sit still, and why an investment doesn't double your money unless it outruns inflation first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a "real" vs "nominal" difference?
Yes. Nominal is the number on the label; real is the number adjusted for inflation. A 5% investment with 3% inflation only increases real buying power by roughly 2%. This calculator shows the buying-power view.
Why does a sports game or house outpace CPI?
CPI measures an average basket, not any single thing. Scarcity, land values and demand get priced in—so real-world prices for the things you care most about can drift far from the average.
Using this to plan a monthly income?
For planning retirement income or long budgets, add your assumed inflation rate to the growth so income figures are in "today's dollars", then re-check every few years. It is the honest way to stress-test a plan.
Estimates only, using a fixed hypothetical inflation rate. Actual inflation varies by country, basket and period; this is a planning tool, not investment advice.