How to use it
- Enter Current salary.
- Enter Raise %.
- Enter Inflation %.
The formula
Real change = (1 + raise) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1.
Worked example
About this calculator
Nominal pay is what your contract says; real pay is what it buys. In years of high inflation the gap between the two decides whether a raise is a genuine improvement or a quiet pay cut dressed as good news.
The formula divides growth in pay by growth in prices rather than subtracting them — at high rates the difference matters. A 10% raise under 8% inflation is a 1.85% real gain, not 2%. Use this before salary negotiations: asking for 'inflation plus X' is a stronger, fairer anchor.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my raise worth less than it looks?
Prices rose too. Only the part of the raise above inflation increases what you can actually buy.
What if inflation is higher than my raise?
Your real wage falls even though the number on your payslip grew.
Which inflation figure should I use?
The latest annual CPI for your country, or your personal basket if you track it.
Tips
- Compare money across years in real terms.
- Hold assets that grow at or above inflation.
- Cash quietly loses value when prices rise.
Key terms
- CPI
- A price index for a basket of goods.
- Real return
- Return after inflation.
- Purchasing power
- What a sum can actually buy.