What today's money is worth tomorrow.
Cash sitting still loses purchasing power year after year. We show what your amount is worth in real terms, and what nominal sum you'd need to maintain the same lifestyle.
Built and reviewed by Stephen Omukoko Okoth
Mathematical Economist · ex-Morgan Stanley FI · Equilar
Inputs
Region defaults
Verdict
$ 55.4K of buying power left.
44.6% of purchasing power eroded over 20 years.
To buy the same things 20 years from now, you'd need $ 180.6K — every shilling/dollar/rand a smaller slice of the same pie.
Result
Two views of the same money
Real value in the future
$ 55.4K
Today's $ 100.0K, eroded
Nominal needed
$ 180.6K
To match today's lifestyle
Common questions
What is inflation actually?
The general rise in prices over time. If a basket of goods costs $100 today and $103 next year, inflation was 3%. The same money buys less — that's purchasing power erosion.
Why does inflation matter for savings?
Money sitting in a 0% account loses real value every year. To preserve purchasing power, your return has to at least match inflation. To build wealth, it has to beat it.
What inflation rate should I use?
Long-run averages: ~2–3% in developed markets, 5–7% in many emerging markets, 15%+ in volatile economies. The calculator pre-fills regional defaults you can override.
Real vs nominal returns?
Nominal is the headline number; real is after subtracting inflation. A 10% return at 8% inflation is only ~1.85% real. Always think in real terms when planning long-horizon goals.