An inflation calculator shows how much money from one year is worth in another year by comparing the price level in both years. Based on the US Consumer Price Index, $1,000 in 2000 had the same buying power as about $1,823 in 2024.
Our free inflation calculator does this for any pair of years from 1980 to 2024 using US CPI data. This guide explains how inflation is measured, the formula behind the calculator, and how to use the result to judge savings, salaries and prices.
What inflation is and how it is measured
Inflation is a general rise in prices across an economy. When prices rise, each dollar, euro or pound buys less than it did before, so the same amount of money has lower purchasing power.
Countries measure inflation with a price index that tracks the cost of a typical basket of goods and services over time. In the United States, the most widely quoted measure is the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is set so that the average for 1982 to 1984 equals 100. The UK, the eurozone and most other economies publish their own consumer price indexes that work the same way.
How to calculate inflation between two years
You only need the index value for each year. Three formulas cover almost every question:
Adjusted value = Amount × (CPI end ÷ CPI start)
Cumulative inflation = (CPI end − CPI start) ÷ CPI start × 100
Average yearly rate = (CPI end ÷ CPI start)^(1 ÷ years) − 1Worked example: $1,000 from 2000 to 2024
- Look up the index values. Our calculator uses 172.2 for 2000 and 314.0 for 2024.
- Divide the end value by the start value: 314.0 ÷ 172.2 = 1.8235.
- Multiply by the amount: 1,000 × 1.8235 = $1,823.46.
- Cumulative inflation: (314.0 − 172.2) ÷ 172.2 × 100 = 82.35%.
- Average yearly rate over 24 years: 1.82351/24 − 1 ≈ 2.53% a year.
The calculation works backward too. Measured in 2000 dollars, $1,000 in 2024 is worth $548.41, a 45.16% fall in buying power.
What $1,000 from past years is worth in 2024
| Starting year | Equivalent in 2024 | Cumulative inflation |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $3,810.68 | 281.07% |
| 1990 | $2,402.45 | 140.24% |
| 2000 | $1,823.46 | 82.35% |
| 2010 | $1,439.71 | 43.97% |
| 2020 | $1,213.29 | 21.33% |
Inflation is uneven. The 2020 to 2024 period averaged about 4.95% a year, roughly double the 2000 to 2024 average, which is why the last few years felt expensive.
How inflation erodes savings
Steady inflation adds up quietly. At 3% a year, $100 has the buying power of $74.41 in today's money after 10 years and $55.37 after 20 years. At 2% it still falls to $82.03 after 10 years.
That is why savers look at the real return, which is the return after inflation. A rough version is the nominal rate minus inflation; the exact version is (1 + nominal) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1. A savings account paying 4% when inflation is 3% grows your buying power by just under 1% a year. To see how a return compounds over decades, read our explainer on how compound interest works and model it with the compound interest calculator.
How to use the inflation calculator
- Open the inflation calculator.
- Enter the Amount in US dollars.
- Choose the Start Year, the year the amount comes from.
- Choose the End Year, the year you want to express it in. Both lists run from 1980 to 2024. Pick an end year earlier than the start year to convert a recent amount into older dollars.
- Read the Buying power panel: the Adjusted Value, a one-line summary such as "$1,000.00 in 2000 = $1,823.46 in 2024", and the Cumulative Inflation between the two years.
The calculator uses annual average US CPI figures, and the most recent year is an estimate, so expect small differences from official monthly data.
Practical uses and common mistakes
- Check whether your pay kept up. A $52,000 salary in 2020 needed to reach about $63,091 in 2024 just to buy the same things. Compare that with your actual raise using the percentage calculator, and turn any salary into hourly or monthly terms with the salary converter.
- Do not apply US CPI to other currencies. The calculator uses US data. For another country, use that country's index with the same formula, because inflation rates differ between economies.
- Remember that CPI is an average. Your personal inflation rate depends on what you buy. Households that spend more on rent, healthcare or education can see costs rise faster than the headline figure.
- Consider fixed-rate debt. Inflation reduces the real weight of a fixed loan payment over time. See how to calculate loan payments for the borrowing side.
Treat the results as estimates for comparison and planning, not as financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate inflation between two years?
Divide the price index for the later year by the index for the earlier year, then multiply your amount by the result. With US CPI values of 172.2 for 2000 and 314.0 for 2024, $1,000 becomes $1,823.46.
What is $1,000 from 2000 worth today?
Based on US CPI, $1,000 in 2000 had the same buying power as about $1,823 in 2024. Prices rose about 82% over that period, an average of roughly 2.5% a year.
What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
The CPI is an index that tracks the average price of a fixed basket of consumer goods and services over time. In the US it is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the 1982 to 1984 average set to 100.
Does the inflation calculator work for other currencies?
The calculator uses US CPI data, so its results apply to US dollars. The formula is the same for any currency, but you need that country's own price index to get accurate results.
What is a normal rate of inflation?
Many central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England, target inflation of about 2% a year. Actual inflation moves above and below that target over time.
What is the difference between nominal and real value?
Nominal value is the amount in the dollars of the day. Real value adjusts for inflation so that amounts from different years can be compared in terms of what they actually buy.