Inflation Calculator
See how inflation erodes your purchasing power over time. This free inflation calculator lets you project future money values, look up what past dollars are worth today using real CPI data, compare your salary growth against actual inflation, and analyze real vs nominal investment returns. Explore cost of living changes, model custom scenarios, and browse country-level inflation dashboards. No signup required.
Future Purchasing Power
Results
Your $1,000.00 today will only buy $788.86 worth of goods in 10 years
Protect your budget from inflation. Track your real spending power, set inflation-aware budgets, and stay on top of your finances with Auritrack.
Try Auritrack FreeInflation Impact Scenarios
See how different inflation rates erode purchasing power over time. Each cell shows what your money would be worth in today's dollars.
| Amount Today | 2%inflation | 4%inflation | 6%inflation | 8%inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | $82.03-18.0% | $67.56-32.4% | $55.84-44.2% | $46.32-53.7% |
| $1,000.00 | $820.35-18.0% | $675.56-32.4% | $558.39-44.2% | $463.19-53.7% |
| $10.0K | $8,203-18.0% | $6,756-32.4% | $5,584-44.2% | $4,632-53.7% |
| $100.0K | $82,035-18.0% | $67,556-32.4% | $55,839-44.2% | $46,319-53.7% |
Values shown represent the purchasing power of each amount after 10 years at the given inflation rate. The percentage shows how much purchasing power is lost.
Country Inflation Dashboard
Explore historical inflation data for different countries, powered by official government CPI data.
Latest Rate
2.4%
Year-over-year
Historical Average
3.8%
All available years
Highest
13.5%
1980
Lowest
-0.4%
2009
Recent Annual Inflation Rates (2006–2025)
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics (1960–2025). Last updated: CPI values through 2025. View source
How to Use the Inflation Calculator
Enter an Amount and Inflation Rate
Type in the dollar amount you want to evaluate and set the annual inflation rate. The default rate is prefilled based on the selected country, but you can adjust it to model any scenario.
Choose a Time Period
Set the number of years into the future, or select a historical year range using CPI data. The calculator supports projections up to 100 years and historical lookups back to 1960 for most countries.
Select a Calculator Mode
Switch between tabs for different analyses: Future Value to project purchasing power loss, Historical to compare past and present dollars, Salary Check to see if your raises beat inflation, Investment Returns for real vs nominal growth, or Cost of Living for item-level price changes.
Review Your Results
Instantly see how much purchasing power is gained or lost, with detailed breakdowns, year-by-year tables, and interactive charts. Scroll down to explore custom inflation scenarios and country-level inflation dashboards.
Understanding Inflation and Purchasing Power
What Is Purchasing Power?
Purchasing power is the amount of goods and services you can buy with a unit of currency. When inflation rises, purchasing power falls because each dollar buys less than it did before. For example, at a 3% annual inflation rate, $1,000 today will only have the purchasing power of about $744 in 10 years. This is calculated using the formula:
Purchasing Power = Amount ÷ (1 + r)n
Where r = annual inflation rate (as a decimal) and n = number of years
How CPI Tracks Inflation
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the most widely used measure of inflation. Government agencies survey prices of hundreds of everyday items across categories including food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and energy. The percentage change in CPI from one year to the next represents the annual inflation rate. This calculator uses official CPI data from eight countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the European Union, India, Nigeria, and South Africa, allowing you to compare historical purchasing power with precision rather than relying on estimated averages.
Why Inflation Matters for Your Finances
Inflation affects virtually every financial decision you make. Savings accounts earning below the inflation rate are actually losing value in real terms. Salary raises that fall below inflation mean your standard of living is declining even as your paycheck grows. Investment returns must be evaluated on a real (inflation-adjusted) basis to understand true wealth creation. Retirement planning must account for decades of compounding inflation to avoid running out of money. Use the salary comparison and investment return tabs above to see exactly how inflation impacts your personal financial situation. Understanding these dynamics is the first step toward protecting and growing your purchasing power over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This tool is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, investment, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and may not reflect actual financial outcomes. Always consult a qualified financial professional before making financial decisions.