Australian Inflation Calculator
Calculate how the value of money has changed over time using historical Australian CPI data. See what past amounts are worth today or what today's money was worth in previous years.
Calculate Inflation
Quick Calculations
Note: Calculations use historical Australian CPI data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Data available from 1970-2024, with RBA target (2.5%) used for projections.
$100,000 in 2000 equals
$193,972
In 2024 dollars
Inflation Summary
Total Inflation
94.0%
Average Rate
2.8%/year
Purchasing Power Change
-48.4%
Your money buys less today
What This Means
If you had $100,000 in 2000, you would need $193,972 today to have the same purchasing power.
That same $100,000 today only buys what $51,554 bought in 2000.
High Inflation Years
2022
7.8%
1975
15.1%
1982
11.1%
Value Over Time
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Year | CPI Rate | Value | Cumulative Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.5% | $100,000 | 0.0% |
| 2001 | 4.4% | $104,400 | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | $107,532 | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | $110,543 | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | $113,085 | +13.1% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | $116,139 | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | $120,204 | +20.2% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | $122,968 | +23.0% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | $128,379 | +28.4% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | $130,690 | +30.7% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | $134,349 | +34.3% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | $138,917 | +38.9% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | $141,417 | +41.4% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | $144,811 | +44.8% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | $148,432 | +48.4% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | $150,658 | +50.7% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | $152,617 | +52.6% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | $155,516 | +55.5% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | $158,471 | +58.5% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | $161,007 | +61.0% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | $162,456 | +62.5% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | $168,142 | +68.1% |
| 2022 | 7.8% | $181,257 | +81.3% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | $188,688 | +88.7% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | $193,972 | +94.0% |
Understanding Inflation
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power over time. When inflation is 3%, something that costs $100 today will cost $103 next year.
CPI
Consumer Price Index
2-3%
RBA Target Range
ABS
Measures quarterly
Australian Inflation History
Key periods of inflation in Australia:
| Period | Avg Inflation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1973-1982 | 10.3% | Oil crisis, stagflation |
| 1983-1990 | 7.5% | High wage growth |
| 1991-2019 | 2.5% | Inflation targeting era |
| 2020-2021 | 2.2% | COVID lockdowns |
| 2022-2023 | 5.9% | Post-COVID surge |
Impact on Your Money
Inflation Hurts
- • Cash savings lose purchasing power
- • Fixed incomes (pensions) buy less
- • Long-term bonds lose real value
- • Low interest savings accounts
Inflation Helps
- • Property values typically rise
- • Debt becomes easier to repay
- • Shares (equity) tend to outpace
- • Wages usually increase over time
How to Beat Inflation
- 1. Invest in shares: Australian shares have returned ~9% p.a. historically, well above inflation
- 2. Property: Real estate typically keeps pace with or exceeds inflation long-term
- 3. High-interest savings: When rates are above inflation, your cash grows in real terms
- 4. Superannuation: Long-term growth investments beat inflation over decades
- 5. Inflation-linked bonds: Government bonds indexed to CPI protect purchasing power
Real vs Nominal Returns
When evaluating investments, always consider real returns (after inflation):
Savings Account
5% nominal
- 3% inflation
= 2% real
Shares (avg)
9% nominal
- 3% inflation
= 6% real
Cash (2022)
1% nominal
- 7% inflation
= -6% real