1. What does this tool do
This free online inflation calculator shows how the purchasing power of money changes over time using real CPI (Consumer Price Index) data for 190+ countries. Use it to answer “how much is that in today’s money?” or to compare salaries and prices across decades. Enter an amount and two years—see the equivalent value. Free to use; no sign-up. Ideal for history, salaries, pensions, or teaching inflation with real data.
2. How to use it
Quick start: Select your country, enter an amount and two years (from-year and to-year), then view the equivalent purchasing power. Great for “what would $100 in 1980 be today?”
- Select country — Choose the country whose inflation data you want to use.
- Enter amount — The sum of money (e.g. 1000 in the local currency).
- Choose years — From-year and to-year (e.g. 1990 and 2024).
- View result — The tool shows the equivalent purchasing power in the to-year (or vice versa).
3. How it works
The tool uses a CPI (Consumer Price Index) series for the selected country. The amount is adjusted by the ratio of CPI in the two years. Data may be loaded from an external API or embedded dataset. Calculations are standard inflation adjustment; the exact result depends on the data source and any rounding. All computation runs in your browser where possible; CPI data may be fetched from a public API.
4. Use cases & examples
- Historical purchasing power — “What would $100 in 1980 be today?”
- Salary comparison across decades — Compare wages in real terms.
- Pensions or savings — See how inflation affects the value of a fixed amount over time.
- Education — Teach purchasing power and inflation with real data.
Example
- $1,000 in 2000 (US) → equivalent in 2024 might be ~$1,700+ depending on CPI data (use the tool for exact figures).
5. Limitations & known constraints
- Data source — Results depend on the CPI dataset (e.g. World Bank). Different sources may give slightly different numbers.
- Approximate — CPI is an average; individual spending patterns may differ.
- Currency — Typically uses the country’s local currency; cross-currency comparison may require an extra step.
- Network — If the tool fetches data from an API, it may require internet access.