Inflation Calculator

Free · no sign-up · reviewed September 2026

Inflation quietly shrinks what your money can buy. This shows how much buying power a sum loses over time, and what something priced today would cost years from now.

Set an amount, a number of years, and an inflation rate to see both sides of the coin.

Drag to adjust

Your numbers

Amount today

Years from now

Annual inflation

In 20 years, $10,000 will have the buying power of

$5,537

in today's dollars, at 3% inflation

💡 Put another way, something that costs $10,000 today would cost about $18,061 in 20 years at 3% inflation. That's why cash left sitting loses value, and why investing to outpace inflation matters.

$18,061

Same basket will cost

in 20 yrs

45%

Buying power lost

of today's value

$5,537

Worth today

in today's dollars

NowYr 10Yr 20

Cost of the same basket$18,061
Today's price$10,000

Amount today: $10,000
Cost in 20 years: $18,061
Future buying power (today's $): $5,537
Buying power lost: 45%

Inflation Calculator · Far Better Off

https://farbetteroff.com/calculators/inflation-calculator

Open that link to get this calculator back with these exact numbers. Estimates for education only — Far Better Off is not a lender or a financial advisor, and these results are not financial advice.

The 2-minute guide

Why cash loses value

At 3% inflation, prices roughly double about every 24 years. Money sitting in a low-interest account slowly buys less each year, even though the dollar amount never drops. That gap is the real cost of not investing.

What inflation rate to use

The long-run US average is around 2 to 3% a year, which is a reasonable default for planning. Some years run much higher, so it's worth checking a range rather than betting on one number.

Beating inflation

To keep or grow your buying power, your money needs to earn more than inflation. That's why long-term savings usually go into investments like index funds rather than cash, which historically outpace inflation over time.

It hits fixed incomes hardest

A pension or salary that doesn't rise with prices buys less every year. When planning for retirement, think in today's dollars and build in a cushion for decades of rising costs.

Frequently asked questions

How does inflation affect my money?

It reduces what each dollar can buy over time. At 3% inflation, $10,000 today has the buying power of about $5,500 in 20 years. The number in your account stays the same, but it buys less.

What will $10,000 be worth in 20 years?

At 3% inflation, $10,000 will have roughly the buying power of $5,500 in today's dollars after 20 years. Put the other way, a $10,000 purchase today would cost about $18,000 then.

What inflation rate should I use?

The long-run US average is about 2 to 3% a year. That's a sensible default, but inflation varies, so it helps to try a few rates to see the range.

How do I protect against inflation?

Earn a return higher than inflation. Historically, diversified investments like stock index funds have outpaced inflation over long periods, while cash has not. See the compound interest calculator for how growth stacks up.

Related calculators

Compound Interest Calculator Retirement Calculator Savings Goal Calculator

Related guides

How to start investing →

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