Real inflation
calculator.

Official CPI says inflation is ~52% since 2000. Your actual costs tell a different story. This tool breaks down what your budget really costs today by category.

YOUR BUDGET THEN VS NOW
Your $3,000/month in 2010 costs
$4,560
per month today
You need $1,560 more per month to maintain the same lifestyle
CATEGORY THEN NOW INCREASE
What this tool assumes
  • Historical CPI-U data from BLS; 2024+ uses recent annual rates.
  • Rolling periods are monthly; endpoint dates are approximate.

CPI sub-category data is approximate, derived from BLS CPI reports. Spending profiles are illustrative averages.

HOW THIS IS CALCULATED

This tool runs entirely in your browser — no data is sent to any server. All formulas use standard financial math. Verify the methodology or inspect the source code in your browser's dev tools.