Inflation Calculator
See how inflation erodes purchasing power over time
$
Today's value
years
Range: 1 - 50
%
Historical average: ~3%
Future Cost
$180,611.12
To buy the same goods in 20 years
Purchasing Power
$55,367.58
$100,000.00 will feel like
Value Lost
$44,632.42
44.6% lost to inflation
Total Inflation
80.6%
Over 20 years
What This Means
If you have $100,000.00 today, in 20 years it will only buy what $55,367.58 buys today. To maintain the same purchasing power, you would need $180,611.12.
Inflation Formula
Future Value = Present Value × (1 + r)^n
Where r = inflation rate, n = years
Year-by-Year Impact
| Year | Cost to Buy Same Goods | Purchasing Power of $100,000.00 | Value Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $100,000.00 | $100,000.00 | $0.00 |
| 1 | $103,000.00 | $97,087.38 | $2,912.62 |
| 3 | $109,272.70 | $91,514.17 | $8,485.83 |
| 5 | $115,927.41 | $86,260.88 | $13,739.12 |
| 7 | $122,987.39 | $81,309.15 | $18,690.85 |
| 9 | $130,477.32 | $76,641.67 | $23,358.33 |
| 11 | $138,423.39 | $72,242.13 | $27,757.87 |
| 13 | $146,853.37 | $68,095.13 | $31,904.87 |
| 15 | $155,796.74 | $64,186.19 | $35,813.81 |
| 17 | $165,284.76 | $60,501.64 | $39,498.36 |
| 19 | $175,350.61 | $57,028.60 | $42,971.40 |
| 20 | $180,611.12 | $55,367.58 | $44,632.42 |
Calculator Assumptions
- Inflation rate: Default 3% based on US historical average; actual rates vary year-to-year (0-15%+)
- Constant rate: Assumes same inflation every year; real inflation fluctuates
- General basket: Based on overall CPI; personal inflation varies by spending categories
- Regional variation: Inflation rates differ by location; national average used
- Specific goods: Healthcare, education, and housing often inflate faster than average
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