Inflation Calculator

Enter an amount, a yearly inflation rate and a number of years to see what the same things could cost later, and how much your money will still buy.

This result is an estimate only. Check with your bank or the relevant authority before making decisions.

How it is calculated

Future cost = amount × (1 + rate ÷ 100) ^ years
Buying power of your money = amount ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100) ^ years
Buying power lost = 1 − 1 ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100) ^ years

To see how your savings can grow against inflation, use the compound interest calculator or the ROI calculator.

Worked example

RM1,000 with 3% inflation for 10 years:

Growth factor: 1.03 ^ 10 = 1.3439
Future cost: 1,000 × 1.3439 = RM1,343.92
Buying power of RM1,000: 1,000 ÷ 1.3439 = RM744.09, a loss of about 25.6%

Why your number may differ

Real inflation changes every year and is different for food, housing, fuel and school fees. A steady rate is a simplification, so treat the result as an estimate, not a forecast.

Frequently asked questions

How is the future cost worked out?

Future cost = amount × (1 + inflation rate) ^ years. At 3% for 10 years, something that costs RM1,000 today would cost about RM1,343.92.

What is buying power?

It is how much your money can buy. If prices rise 3% a year, RM1,000 kept in cash buys only about RM744 worth of today’s goods after 10 years.

Which inflation rate should I use?

Use your own assumption. Official inflation figures come from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), and they vary from year to year and by type of spending.