Inflation Impact Calculator
See how inflation erodes purchasing power — future cost of today's goods and services.
100% client-side · no upload
Future Cost (same goods)
Today's Value of Future Amount
Purchasing Power Lost
How to use
- Enter the amount you want to analyze — a salary, savings target, or purchase price.
- Set the expected annual inflation rate (US CPI averages 2–3% historically).
- Choose a time horizon to see the real cost and purchasing power change.
Related tools
- Rule of 72 Calculator — doubling time at any rate
- Compound Interest Calculator
- 401(k) Projection Calculator
More ways to use this tool
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this inflation calculator free?
- Yes, completely free with no signup required. All calculations run in your browser.
- Does my data leave my device?
- No. Your figures never leave your device.
- Does it work on mobile?
- Yes. The tool is mobile-first and works on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome.
- What inflation rate should I use?
- The US CPI has averaged 2–3% annually over recent decades. Use 3% for conservative retirement planning. For high-inflation scenarios use 5–8%. Check your country's central bank for recent CPI data.
- What does "purchasing power lost" mean?
- It shows what percentage of your money's buying power is eroded by inflation. At 3% for 10 years, you lose ~26% — your $1,000 today buys what ~$744 would buy in 10 years.
Last updated: By jarvisbox