Inflation & purchasing power calculator
No account, email or phone. Planning estimates, not quotes or personalized advice.
Open full calculator, sources & methodology ↗Keep up to three named scenarios, then change the calculator for the next one. Saved comparisons stay in this tab and disappear when you leave. To save a file, choose “Save as PDF” in your browser’s print dialog.
Your assumed raises lose purchasing power
Estimates update as you change the numbers. Review the assumptions below.
See the breakdown
- Total assumed price change
- 34.4%
- Future salary in today’s dollars
- $54,423
- Salary needed to preserve purchasing power
- $80,635
- Historical equivalent using entered CPI indexes
- $1,244
- Historical price change using entered indexes
- 24.4%
Your plan over time
View exact values
| Period | Nominal salary | Salary in today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Year 1 | $61,200 | $59,417 |
| Year 2 | $62,424 | $58,841 |
| Year 3 | $63,672 | $58,269 |
| Year 4 | $64,946 | $57,704 |
| Year 5 | $66,245 | $57,143 |
| Year 6 | $67,570 | $56,589 |
| Year 7 | $68,921 | $56,039 |
| Year 8 | $70,300 | $55,495 |
| Year 9 | $71,706 | $54,956 |
| Year 10 | $73,140 | $54,423 |
How to read this estimate
The projection is a constant-rate scenario, not a forecast or live inflation reading. Negative inflation and raises are allowed. Real change is compounded, not calculated by simply subtracting rates.
Historical conversion = amount × ending CPI / starting CPI. Use the same index series and comparable time periods for both values. Saved period choices use BLS monthly CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted. Defaults compare December 2020 with December 2025. You can enter custom indexes; the dated snapshot is not refreshed automatically.
The BLS CPI measures average consumer price change. Your household basket and location can differ; the index does not predict your personal costs.