Inflation Calculator
Find out what past amounts are worth in today's dollars (or any year). Uses US CPI historical data from 1913-2024.
| Category | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| 1950 | $100.00 |
| 1952 | $109.96 |
| 1954 | $111.62 |
| 1956 | $112.86 |
| 1958 | $119.92 |
| 1960 | $122.82 |
| 1962 | $125.31 |
| 1964 | $128.63 |
| 1966 | $134.44 |
| 1968 | $144.40 |
| 1970 | $161.00 |
| 1972 | $173.44 |
| 1974 | $204.56 |
| 1976 | $236.10 |
| 1978 | $270.54 |
| 1980 | $341.91 |
| 1982 | $400.41 |
| 1984 | $431.12 |
| 1986 | $454.77 |
| 1988 | $490.87 |
| 1990 | $542.32 |
| 1992 | $582.16 |
| 1994 | $614.94 |
| 1996 | $651.04 |
| 1998 | $676.35 |
| 2000 | $714.52 |
| 2002 | $746.47 |
| 2004 | $783.82 |
| 2006 | $836.51 |
| 2008 | $893.36 |
| 2010 | $904.98 |
| 2012 | $952.70 |
| 2014 | $982.16 |
| 2016 | $995.85 |
| 2018 | $1,041.91 |
| 2020 | $1,073.86 |
| 2022 | $1,214.52 |
| 2024 | $1,303.73 |
Uses approximate US Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual averages. Data from 1913–2024.
How to use Inflation Calculator
This inflation calculator shows how the purchasing power of money changes over time. See what a past amount is worth in today’s dollars, what a future amount will buy at an assumed inflation rate, or the equivalent salary you would need to keep pace with rising prices. It makes the slow erosion of cash — and why investments must outpace inflation — concrete.
- Enter an amount of money.
- Set the start year (or "today") and the end year.
- Provide the average annual inflation rate, or use historical data.
- Review the equivalent value and total change in purchasing power.
- Compare across different time horizons.
Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.
How inflation erodes purchasing power
Inflation compounds like interest in reverse: at 3% a year, prices roughly double every ~24 years, so the same cash buys far less over time. Future value = amount × (1 + rate)^years for prices, and today’s equivalent of a past amount divides by that factor. This is why money left in low-yield cash steadily loses real value.
| Years | Equivalent buying power |
|---|---|
| 10 years | ~$744 |
| 20 years | ~$554 |
| 30 years | ~$412 |
Real returns and beating inflation
Your "real" return is the nominal return minus inflation. An investment earning 6% during 3% inflation has a ~3% real return. To preserve and grow wealth, savings need to earn at least the inflation rate; this is the core argument for investing rather than holding excess cash long-term.
Worked examples
Past to present
Inputs: $1,000 in 2000 · ~2.5% avg
Result: ~$1,780 in today’s money
Future erosion
Inputs: $50,000 · 3% · 20 yr
Result: ~$27,700 buying power
Glossary
- Inflation rate
- The annual percentage increase in the general price level.
- Purchasing power
- How much a given amount of money can actually buy.
- Real value
- A monetary amount adjusted for inflation.
- CPI
- Consumer Price Index — a common measure of inflation based on a basket of goods.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why use Inflation Calculator?
- Transparent formulas so you understand every calculation
- Supports multiple currencies and regional tax rules
- Saves you from spreadsheet errors with validated inputs
- Shareable results for discussions with advisors or partners
Common use cases
- Calculate how long to pay off a credit card balance
- Model different mortgage scenarios before house hunting
- Forecast investment growth with compound interest
- Break even analysis for a new product or service
- Compare net salary after tax across different countries
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