Retirement Inflation Calculator: Future Cost of Living

Rising prices are one of the biggest risks in a long retirement. Enter what something costs today to see what it will cost later, and how much buying power a fixed income loses.

Enter your numbers

Monthly cost today$Your monthly spending, or one bill.Years from nowyearsYearly cost-of-living increase%Social Security COLAs averaged 3.1% over 10 years, 2.5% over 20 years.

In 20 years the same things cost$8,686/mo$104,235 a year

What $5,000 buys then, in today's dollars: $2,878
Prices double about every: 25.1 years
Average Social Security COLA, last 10 / 20 / 30 years: 3.1% / 2.5% / 2.5%

Social Security rises each year with its cost-of-living adjustment, but most pensions and annuities do not. Fixed income loses buying power over a long retirement, so plan for spending that rises over time. See every COLA since 1984 →

Estimates only, not financial, tax, or investment advice.

Why inflation matters more in retirement

A retirement can last 25–30 years or more. At 3% inflation, prices roughly double in 24 years, so a fixed $2,000 pension buys about half as much near the end of retirement as at the start.

Protecting against rising costs

Social Security rises each year with its cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
Delaying Social Security increases the part of your income that is protected from inflation.
Keep part of your savings invested for growth, even in retirement.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and I bonds rise with inflation.

Common questions

How much will things cost in 20 years?

At 3% yearly inflation, prices rise about 81% in 20 years, so $5,000 a month today would be about $9,000 a month.

Does Social Security keep up with inflation?

Yes. Benefits rise each January with a cost-of-living adjustment tied to inflation.

Official 2026 figures from: IRS: 2026 401(k) and IRA limits (IR-2025-111) · IRS: Catch-up contributions · IRS: Required minimum distributions · IRS: Publication 590-B (Uniform Lifetime Table) · IRS: Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (2026 HSA limits) · SSA: 2026 COLA fact sheet · CMS: 2026 Medicare premiums and deductibles · SSA: Cost-of-living adjustment history · BEA: Regional Price Parities by state (2024 data)