Inflation Calculator

Your scenario

Currency

Starting amount

A price or cash amount in the selected currency.

Annual inflation rate

Use a negative rate for deflation. The same rate applies every year.

Number of years

Whole years from 0 to 100. Year 0 is today.

An estimate using your chosen constant rate, not historical CPI data or a forecast. Cash earns no interest in this comparison.

Inflation impact

Future equivalent cost

$1,343.92

The amount needed at the end of the period to buy what the starting amount buys today.

Remaining purchasing power

$744.09

What the unchanged starting cash will buy at the end of the period, expressed in today's money.

Cumulative inflation: 34.39%
Purchasing power change: -25.59%

Year-by-year breakdown

Year 0 shows the starting value. Purchasing power is expressed in today's money.
Year	Future equivalent cost	Remaining purchasing power	Cumulative inflation
0	$1,000.00	$1,000.00	0%
1	$1,030.00	$970.87	3%
2	$1,060.90	$942.60	6.09%
3	$1,092.73	$915.14	9.27%
4	$1,125.51	$888.49	12.55%
5	$1,159.27	$862.61	15.93%
6	$1,194.05	$837.48	19.41%
7	$1,229.87	$813.09	22.99%
8	$1,266.77	$789.41	26.68%
9	$1,304.77	$766.42	30.48%
10	$1,343.92	$744.09	34.39%

How inflation changes the value of money

Inflation raises prices, so the same cash buys less. This calculator shows both sides: the future cost of today's purchase and the future purchasing power of cash you keep unchanged. Enter an amount, an assumed annual rate and a number of years; results update instantly.

Inflation formulas

F = P(1+r)^n

V = \frac{P}{(1+r)^n}

I = \bigl((1+r)^n - 1\bigr) \times 100\%

\Delta V = \bigl((1+r)^{-n} - 1\bigr) \times 100\%

$P$ is the starting amount, $r$ is the annual rate divided by 100, and $n$ is the number of years. $F$ is the future cost, $V$ is purchasing power in today's money, $I$ is cumulative inflation, and $\Delta V$ is the percentage change in purchasing power.

Example: 10% inflation for two years

A purchase costing 100 today would cost 121 after two years at 10% annual inflation. Keeping 100 in cash would leave purchasing power of about 82.64 in today's money. Prices rise by 21%, while purchasing power falls by about 17.36%: these percentages use different bases.

Frequently asked questions

Does this use historical inflation data?

No. You choose a constant annual rate. Comparing actual prices between calendar years requires the relevant country's consumer price index (CPI) for both dates. This tool does not retrieve CPI data or predict future inflation.

Can I calculate deflation?

Yes. Enter a negative annual rate down to −99%. Future prices fall and unchanged cash gains purchasing power. A zero rate leaves both amounts unchanged.

Does changing the currency change the calculation?

No. The currency selector changes formatting, not exchange rates or the inflation assumption. Use an inflation rate appropriate to the prices you want to model. Interest, investment returns and taxes are excluded.