I built this so you can see how prices going up eat away at money that sits still. Type an amount and pick the years. You see what it will buy then, and what you will need then to buy the same things.
$
years
%
For reference: from December 1913 to December 2025, US consumer prices rose about 3.2% a year on average. That is worked out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The past does not tell us the future.
In 20 years, $1,000 will buy whatbuys today
To buy what $1,000 buys today, in 20 years you need
Your amount after 10, 20 and 30 years
After
It will buy what this buys today
You will need
This uses the same inflation rate every year. Real inflation goes up and down from year to year. Some prices rise faster than others.
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), all items, US city average, series CUUR0000SA0: 10.0 in December 1913 and 324.054 in December 2025, which works out to about 3.2% a year on average: bls.gov, CPI-U data
The 3% default rate is an assumption, not a forecast.
For education only. Not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Numbers are estimates based on the assumptions you enter.
Milan Prastalo