Inflation Calculator

Calculate how inflation erodes your purchasing power. See what today's money will be worth in the future.

Historical US average: 2-3%
How far into the future do you want to project?
Optional: if you also save monthly, see real vs nominal
Future Value (Nominal)
What $1 will cost in the future
Real Purchasing Power
What today's money is worth then
Total Purchasing Power Lost
Your Money Loses
Percentage of value

Why Inflation Matters for Your Financial Planning

At a 3% inflation rate, the purchasing power of your money halves in about 24 years. This means if you're planning for retirement 30 years from now, you'll need roughly 2.4 times as much money as you'd need today for the same lifestyle. This is why financial planners always account for inflation when estimating retirement needs — even a "safe" 3% inflation rate drastically changes the numbers over decades.

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