Inflation Calculator
Discover how purchasing power changes over time and what today's money is worth in the future.
Quick examples:
Equivalent Value in 2026
Purchasing Power Lost
82%
Over 32 years
Needed Today to Match 1994 Purchasing Power
R180.27
Average Annual Inflation Rate
5.5%
Time Period
32 years
Purchasing Power Decline
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Year | Value | Purchasing Power Lost |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | R1,000 | 0% |
| 1999 | R1,306.96 | -30.7% |
| 2004 | R1,708.14 | -70.8% |
| 2009 | R2,232.48 | -123.2% |
| 2014 | R2,917.76 | -191.8% |
| 2019 | R3,813.39 | -281.3% |
| 2024 | R4,983.95 | -398.4% |
| 2026 | R5,547.26 | 82% |
How it works
Future Value = Present Value × (1 + Annual Rate)^Number of Years Purchasing Power Lost = (1 − 1 / (1 + Annual Rate)^Years) × 100% Average Annual Inflation Rate = Geometric Mean of yearly rates OR enter a custom rate if calculating hypothetical scenarios Example: R100 in 1994 at 5.5% average annual inflation (SA CPI) Value in 2024 (30 years): R100 × (1.055)^30 = R538 Purchasing power lost: 81.5% of its original buying power
Enter an amount and select a time period to see how inflation erodes purchasing power. Choose your currency to auto-load the historical average inflation rate for that country (SA, US, UK, or AU). Or enter a custom inflation rate to model different scenarios. The calculator shows the equivalent value at the end year, how much purchasing power was lost, and what you'd need today to match that past purchasing power. Quick-fill buttons let you explore key historical moments (SA democracy, Y2K, GFC).
Why this matters
A rand saved in 1990 is worth far less today, even if it sits in a bank account earning interest. Inflation silently eats wealth. Understanding this is critical for long-term financial planning: what looks like a good return (5%) might barely keep up with inflation (5%), leaving you no real gain. This calculator makes purchasing power losses visible. It shows the true value of old money and helps you understand why you need returns above inflation to actually build wealth. It's the foundation of understanding real returns, retirement adequacy, and why bonds and savings accounts can lose purchasing power over decades.
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Learn more
The complete guide to inflation calculator
Formulas, examples, and tips explained in plain English