Inflation Calculator — Future Purchasing Power
At just 3% inflation, $100 today buys only $74 worth of goods in 10 years — and half in 24. Quantify what inflation does to your cash, and what future income keeps up with today's lifestyle.
- Future amount to match today
- $90,305.56
- Purchasing power lost
- $22,316.21
How this calculator works
- Future purchasing power = amount ÷ (1 + inflation)^years. The Fed targets 2% inflation; the long-run US average is nearer 3%, with 2021–2023 peaking above 9%.
- This is exactly why retirement math uses real (after-inflation) returns — a 7% nominal return during 3% inflation grows wealth by only ~4% in real terms.
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I plan with?
3% is a sensible long-run planning number for the US. Healthcare and college costs have historically inflated faster (5%+), worth modeling separately for those goals.
How do I protect savings from inflation?
Equities and real assets have historically outpaced inflation over long horizons; I-bonds and TIPS are explicitly indexed to CPI for the safe portion of a portfolio. Cash loses by design.
What is the rule of 70 for inflation?
Divide 70 by the inflation rate to estimate when prices double: at 3.5%, the cost of living doubles every ~20 years.
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Disclaimer: Results are estimates for educational purposes only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules are simplified (credits, phase-outs, and local taxes may not be modeled). Verify important decisions with the IRS, your state tax authority, or a licensed professional.