Why use this calculator
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. This calculator helps you understand how much more you would need in the future to match today's buying power, or what past dollars are worth in today's terms.
How to use it
Enter a dollar amount, the start and end years, and an average annual inflation rate. The calculator shows the equivalent value adjusted for inflation and the change in purchasing power.
The formula
Adjusted Value = Amount x (1 + Inflation Rate / 100) ^ Number of Years
Worked examples
$100 from 2000 to 2025 at 3% inflation
Equivalent to approximately $209.38 in 2025 dollars
$50,000 salary from 2010 to 2024 at 2.5% inflation
You would need about $70,399 in 2024 to match 2010 purchasing power
When people use it
- Understanding how much a past salary is worth in today's dollars
- Planning retirement savings to maintain future purchasing power
- Comparing historical prices to current values
- Evaluating whether investment returns beat inflation
Tips
- The U.S. historical average inflation rate is approximately 3% per year
- Use CPI data for more precise historical inflation adjustments
- Inflation varies significantly by category (housing, healthcare, food)
Questions people ask
- What inflation rate should I use?
- The long-term U.S. average is about 3%. Recent years have seen higher rates. Use 2-3% for conservative long-term projections.
- Does this account for deflation?
- Yes, if you set a negative inflation rate or reverse the start/end years, the calculator handles deflation scenarios.