Inflation Calculator — Future Value of Money
Inflation slowly erodes what money can buy. Enter an amount and an expected inflation rate to see what the same basket of goods will cost in the future — and what today's money will really be worth.
Inflation Calculator
What money is worth in the future
Future cost of the same things1,343.92
Future buying power of this amount744.09
Total price rise34.4%
How it works
- Future cost = amount × (1 + inflation)^years.
- Future buying power = amount ÷ (1 + inflation)^years.
- Many central banks, including the ECB and the Federal Reserve, target 2% inflation.
- Savings must earn more than inflation to grow in real terms.
Worked example: 1,000 at 3% for 10 years
- 11.03^10 ≈ 1.344.
- 2Future cost: 1,000 × 1.344 = 1,344.
- 3Buying power: 1,000 ÷ 1.344 = 744.
Prices rise 34% — 1,000 buys what 744 does today
Buying power of 1,000 after 10 years
| Inflation | Future cost | Buying power |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | 1,219 | 820 |
| 3% | 1,344 | 744 |
| 5% | 1,629 | 614 |
| 8% | 2,159 | 463 |
Frequently asked questions
What is inflation?
The general rise in prices over time, which means the same amount of money buys less.
What inflation rate should I use?
2–3% is a common long-term assumption; use recent official figures for short periods.
How do I protect savings from inflation?
Aim for returns above inflation — see the Compound Interest and Retirement calculators to compare.
Use it without ads
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