Consumer Price Index measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a basket of consumer goods and services. It is the standard measure of inflation used by central banks worldwide.

Why does $100 from 1990 feel like more than $230 today?

Inflation compounds gradually so the change is rarely intuitive. Some categories (housing, healthcare, university tuition) have outpaced general CPI significantly, while electronics have actually gotten cheaper — the index is an average.

Is inflation the same across countries?

No. Argentina sees double-digit annual inflation in many years; Japan ran near-zero inflation for two decades. The calculator handles each country’s CPI separately, which is why selecting the right country matters.

What about asset price inflation?

CPI measures consumer goods and services, not asset prices like real estate or stocks. House prices in many cities have risen far faster than CPI — which is why CPI alone does not capture the full cost-of-living squeeze felt by renters and first-time buyers.

Can I use this for retirement planning?

Absolutely. Assume 2-3% annual inflation for long-term retirement projections. A $60,000 retirement income that seems comfortable today is the equivalent of roughly $109,000 in 30 years at 2% inflation — plan accordingly.

Fiat & FX

Historical Purchasing Power

What was $100 in 1990 worth today? See how inflation has eroded — or amplified — the value of money over time.

Amount

Start year

End year

Country

Enter a start and end year — results update instantly.

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Money loses value over time. A coffee that cost $1 in 1990 costs about $2.50 today — not because coffee got better, but because the dollar got weaker. Understanding inflation is critical for retirement planning, investment returns, salary negotiations, and just making sense of historical financial figures.

This calculator uses official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data to show you exactly how the purchasing power of any amount has changed between any two years, across multiple countries and currencies. It is the answer to the question every financial story should start with: in today’s dollars, what does that really mean?

How it works

Enter a dollar amount, choose a start year and end year, and pick a country. The calculator looks up the CPI for both years and applies the formula: adjusted_value = original_value × (end_year_cpi / start_year_cpi). The result tells you what that amount is worth in the target year’s purchasing power.

We use official CPI data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statistics Canada, the UK Office for National Statistics, Eurostat, and other national agencies. Data is refreshed when each agency publishes its monthly inflation print.