Inflation & Purchasing Power Calculator

See how much your money's purchasing power changes with inflation. Enter an amount, an annual inflation rate, and a time horizon; we show you the equivalent purchasing power in today's dollars and how much you'd need in the future to match today's buying power.

Inputs

Results

Purchasing power after selected years (in today's dollars)$7,440.94
Future amount needed to match today's purchasing power$13,439.16

Purchasing power over time

Purchasing power of your amount in today's dollars at each year. Inflation-only; no investment return. Values are in today's dollars.

How it works

We use a single annual inflation rate. Purchasing power in Y years (in today's dollars) = amount ÷ (1 + inflation rate)^Y. So after inflation, the same nominal amount buys less; this number is how much "in today's dollars" that future purchasing power equals. Future amount needed = amount × (1 + inflation rate)^Y — the nominal amount you would need in Y years to have the same buying power as your amount today.

There is no investment return or interest in this calculator; it is inflation-only. Inflation is assumed constant over the period. With deflation (negative inflation), purchasing power increases over time.

Pre-tax illustration; consult a tax advisor if relevant. Results are estimates only.

FAQ

Are these calculators financial advice?
No. All tools are for educational and estimation purposes only. Always do your own research and consider consulting a financial advisor.
Do you store my data?
No. All calculations run in your browser. We do not collect or store your inputs.
What inflation rate should I use?
Historical long-term inflation in many economies is often around 2–3% per year, but it varies by country and period. Use a rate that reflects your expectation or a conservative estimate. This calculator does not use live data; you enter the rate manually.
How is this different from the Millionaire and Compound Interest calculators?
The Millionaire Calculator shows when you could reach $100k, $1M, etc. with contributions and investment growth. The Compound Interest Calculator shows how much you'll have after N years with initial deposit, contributions, and compound growth. This calculator focuses only on inflation: how purchasing power changes over time with no contributions or investment return.

More calculators

Calculators are for education and estimation only. Not financial advice.