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Inflation Calculator

See how inflation eats into the value of your money. Find out what today's expenses will cost in the future — and how much purchasing power idle cash loses over time.

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Inflation Details

₹1K₹1Cr
%
1%20%
yr
1 yr40 yr

Common scenarios

Future Cost (same goods)

₹0

what ₹1,00,000 of goods will cost after 10 years

Today's Cost

₹0

Extra Needed

₹0

Cost Rise

0%

Purchasing power of that money: ₹0

Money vs Inflation

Future cost of today's goods ₹0

If you do nothing, your expenses grow to this amount.

Real value of idle cash ₹0

What today's amount can buy after inflation, in today's prices.

To simply maintain your lifestyle, your money must grow at least 6% every year just to keep up with inflation.

Year-by-Year Impact

Rising cost vs falling purchasing power

Future cost
Real value
0

Year-by-Year Schedule

Future cost and real value at the end of each year

Year Inflation Factor Future Cost Real Value (today)

What Is an Inflation Calculator?

Inflation is the steady rise in the price of goods and services over time. As prices rise, each rupee buys a little less — so the money you hold today loses purchasing power every year.

An inflation calculator shows you two things at once: how much a given expense will cost in the future, and how much the real value of your money shrinks if it just sits idle. It turns an invisible cost into a number you can plan around.

How Is Inflation Calculated?

The future cost of money compounds at the inflation rate, just like compound interest works in reverse on your purchasing power:

FV = PV × (1 + i)ⁿ

Where FV is the future cost, PV is today's amount, i is the annual inflation rate (decimal), and n is the number of years.

Real value = PV ÷ (1 + i)ⁿ

Dividing instead of multiplying tells you what today's money will actually be worth in tomorrow's economy.

Example Calculation

Suppose your household spends ₹1,00,000 a year today, and inflation runs at 6% for the next 10 years:

Future cost = 1,00,000 × (1.06)¹⁰ ₹1,79,085
Real value = 1,00,000 ÷ (1.06)¹⁰ ₹55,839

The same lifestyle costs 79% more in 10 years. ₹1 lakh kept idle would buy only ₹55,839 worth of goods in today's terms — a loss of nearly half its value.

Why Calculating Inflation Matters

  • It sets realistic goals — a ₹50 lakh retirement target sounds large, but inflation may make it worth a fraction of that by the time you retire.
  • It exposes the cost of idle cash — money in a low-interest account silently loses value every single year.
  • It guides where to invest — you can clearly see why your returns must beat inflation to actually grow wealth.
  • It plans big future expenses — education, healthcare and a home all inflate, often faster than headline CPI.
Read more: How inflation quietly erodes your wealth

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about inflation and the value of money

How is inflation calculated on money?
Future cost is calculated as FV = PV × (1 + i)ⁿ, where PV is today's amount, i is the annual inflation rate, and n is the number of years. ₹1,00,000 at 6% inflation grows to ₹1,79,085 in 10 years — the same goods cost almost 80% more.
What inflation rate should I use for India?
India's long-term CPI inflation has averaged about 5–6%. Use 6% for general planning, 7–8% for lifestyle expenses, and 8–10% for education and healthcare, which historically inflate faster than the headline rate.
What will ₹1 crore be worth in 20 years?
At 6% inflation, the purchasing power of ₹1 crore falls to about ₹31.2 lakh in today's terms after 20 years. You would need roughly ₹3.2 crore in 20 years to buy what ₹1 crore buys today.
Why does inflation matter for my savings?
If your savings earn less than inflation, you lose real value even though the rupee figure rises. Cash in a savings account or a low-rate FD often loses purchasing power after tax — which is why investing to beat inflation is essential.
How do I beat inflation?
Your investments must earn more than the inflation rate. Equity mutual fund SIPs (historically 10–15% p.a.) and index funds have outpaced India's 5–6% inflation over long periods. FDs and savings accounts often only match or trail inflation after tax.
What is the difference between nominal and real value?
Nominal value is the rupee amount on paper. Real value is what that amount can actually buy after adjusting for inflation. ₹1 lakh in 10 years is the same nominal amount, but its real value in today's prices is far lower.

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