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Future Cost Calculator
See how much something will cost years from now once inflation is factored in. Enter today's price, an inflation rate and a time horizon, then press Calculate.
Written by TopicDrill Editorial Team·Updated June 2026
Rising cost over time
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How the future cost calculator works
Prices tend to rise a little every year, and that growth compounds. This tool takes today's price and grows it forward at the inflation rate you choose. The chart above shows the price climbing, gently at first and then faster as compounding takes hold.
The math is straightforward. Future cost equals today's price multiplied by one plus the rate, raised to the number of years. That is the same compounding you see in savings, just applied to spending instead.
A quick example
Say a yearly expense costs $1,000 today and prices rise 3% a year. In 20 years that same expense costs about $1,806, and in 30 years about $2,427. Nothing changed about the item, only the dollars needed to buy it.
Things to keep in mind
Inflation varies by category and over time, so treat the result as a planning estimate, not a guarantee. For official inflation data, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To grow savings to meet that future cost, try our future value calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is future cost calculated?
It uses compound growth: Future cost = P times (1 + r)^t, where P is today's price, r is the annual inflation rate as a decimal, and t is the number of years. So a $1,000 item at 3% inflation for 20 years costs about $1,806.
What inflation rate should I use?
A long run average of 2% to 3% is a reasonable default for general prices in the United States. Some categories like healthcare and college tuition rise faster, so use a higher rate for those. You can try several rates to bracket the outcome.
Why does a small inflation rate matter so much?
Because inflation compounds. Each year the price grows on top of the previous year's higher price, so even a modest rate adds up over long periods. Over 30 years, 3% inflation more than doubles a price.
How is this different from present value?
Future cost grows a price forward in time. Present value does the reverse, discounting a future amount back to today's dollars. Both use the same compounding math, just in opposite directions.
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