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Inflation Calculator

See how inflation raises the future cost of things and quietly erodes the real value of your money.

Quick presets

Inflation Calculator

₹
% p.a.
years
Use a benchmark:
Future cost of the same thing
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Today's – will buy only – worth
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Purchasing power left
Price vs purchasing power
To keep up, your money needs

Educational estimate, not financial or tax advice. Returns are never guaranteed. Everything is calculated in your browser.

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About the Inflation Calculator

Inflation is the gradual rise in prices that shrinks what each rupee can buy. A number that looks large today — a salary, a retirement corpus, a savings goal — will stretch far less in ten or twenty years, which is why long-term planning must account for it.

This calculator answers two related questions. The future cost tells you what something priced at your amount today will cost later: Future = Present × (1 + inflation/100)^years. The future value tells you the real purchasing power of that same fixed amount later: Present ÷ (1 + inflation/100)^years — in other words, what today's money will actually be worth. The difference between the amount and its future value is what inflation quietly takes away.

Figures are estimates. Real inflation varies year to year and differs across categories like food, fuel, healthcare and education, so use a realistic long-run rate. All maths runs privately in your browser.

Examples

₹1,00,000 at 6% inflation for 10 years → costs ≈ ₹1,79,085 in future; its real value falls to ≈ ₹55,839.
A ₹50 lakh retirement goal at 6% for 20 years → needs ≈ ₹1.6 crore to buy the same lifestyle.
Compare 5% vs 7% inflation over 15 years to see how sensitive long-term goals are to the rate.

Frequently asked questions

5 answers
What inflation rate should I use?
India's long-run consumer inflation has often hovered around 5-7%, though it varies. Use a conservative figure and revisit it as conditions change.
What is the difference between future cost and future value?
Future cost is what a thing will cost later; future value is what today's money will be worth later. One grows with inflation, the other shrinks.
Why does my money lose value even if I keep it safe?
Cash sitting idle does not grow, but prices do. So even a perfectly safe amount buys less each year — that erosion is what this tool measures.
How can I beat inflation?
Investing in assets that historically outpace inflation, such as equities, can preserve or grow real value. Use the SIP or lumpsum calculators to project growth.
Does inflation affect everyone equally?
No. Your personal inflation depends on what you spend on — healthcare and education often rise faster than the headline rate, so your effective rate may be higher.