Inflation Adjustment Calculator
What is a future amount worth in today’s money? Adjust for assumed inflation and compare purchasing power across different rates and time horizons.
Your numbers
Use one currency for all amounts. Changing this selector changes formatting only; it does not convert values.
Worth in today’s money
$74,409.39- Purchasing power lost (negative = gained)
- $25,590.61
- Purchasing power lost (%)
- 25.59%
- Cumulative price change (%)
- 34.39%
Compare inflation assumptions
Same future amount and time horizon. These rates are scenarios, not forecasts. The selected rate is included.
| Annual inflation | Today’s equivalent | Purchasing power lost |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $100,000.00 | 0% |
| 2% | $82,034.83 | 17.97% |
| 3% | $74,409.39 | 25.59% |
| 5% | $61,391.33 | 38.61% |
Compare time horizons
| Months | Today’s equivalent | Purchasing power lost |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $100,000.00 | 0% |
| 12 | $97,087.38 | 2.91% |
| 60 | $86,260.88 | 13.74% |
| 120 | $74,409.39 | 25.59% |
How the calculation works
This discounts a single future amount using a constant effective annual inflation rate. It does not calculate investment returns, taxes or exchange rates, and does not fetch historical CPI. Negative inflation represents deflation; negative loss means purchasing power increases. Your own expenses may rise differently.
Worked example
At an assumed 3% annual inflation rate, 100,000 received in 120 months buys what about 74,409.39 buys today. Prices rise 34.39%, while purchasing power falls 25.59%: the percentages use different bases.
Common question
Does 3% inflation for ten years mean a 30% loss?
No. Price changes compound, and purchasing power is the inverse of the price level. At 3% for ten years, the purchasing power loss is about 25.59%.
Can I use a negative rate or a zero-month term?
Yes. A rate above −100% models deflation. At zero months, or zero inflation, the amount is unchanged.
Is the rate a forecast for my country?
No. The default 3% and comparison rates are hypothetical. Currency selection changes formatting only; it does not select an inflation series.