Calculate the impact of price changes on your SGD purchasing power
Calculation Results
Future Nominal Value:
Total % Increase:
Understanding Inflation in Singapore
Inflation refers to the general increase in prices and the subsequent fall in the purchasing power of money. In Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) monitors two primary measures: CPI-All Items (Headline Inflation) and MAS Core Inflation (which excludes accommodation and private transport costs).
How This Calculator Works
This tool uses the compound interest formula to determine how much a specific sum of money will be worth in the future, or how much more you would need to buy the same basket of goods given a specific annual inflation rate.
Formula: Future Value = Amount × (1 + Rate/100)Number of Years
Historical Context (Singapore Average)
While inflation fluctuates, Singapore's long-term historical inflation rate has averaged between 2% and 3%. However, global supply chain disruptions or local policy changes (like GST increases) can cause temporary spikes.
Item
Price (1990s)
Price (2024 Est.)
Plate of Chicken Rice
S$1.50 – S$2.00
S$4.00 – S$6.00
Bus/MRT Fare (Short)
~S$0.60
~S$1.09
Tips to Beat Inflation in Singapore
Invest Regularly: Cash in a standard savings account often yields lower returns than the inflation rate, meaning you lose "real" value.
CPF Contributions: The CPF Ordinary Account (OA) and Special Account (SA) offer guaranteed interest rates that often outpace core inflation.
Monitor Core Inflation: Focus on MAS Core Inflation reports to understand how daily expenses like food and services are changing.
function calculateInflation() {
var amount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("sgAmount").value);
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("sgRate").value);
var startYear = parseInt(document.getElementById("sgStartYear").value);
var endYear = parseInt(document.getElementById("sgEndYear").value);
var resultArea = document.getElementById("sgResultArea");
if (isNaN(amount) || isNaN(rate) || isNaN(startYear) || isNaN(endYear)) {
alert("Please enter valid numerical values.");
return;
}
var years = endYear – startYear;
if (years < 0) {
alert("End year must be greater than start year.");
return;
}
// Calculation: FV = PV * (1 + i)^n
var futureValue = amount * Math.pow((1 + (rate / 100)), years);
var totalPercentage = (Math.pow((1 + (rate / 100)), years) – 1) * 100;
var lossOfPower = amount – (amount / Math.pow((1 + (rate / 100)), years));
document.getElementById("sgFutureValue").innerText = "S$" + futureValue.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("sgTotalIncrease").innerText = totalPercentage.toFixed(1) + "%";
document.getElementById("sgSummaryText").innerHTML = "In " + endYear + ", you would need S$" + futureValue.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + " to buy what S$" + amount.toLocaleString() + " buys in " + startYear + ".This represents a " + (futureValue / amount).toFixed(2) + "x increase in prices over " + years + " years.";
resultArea.style.display = "block";
resultArea.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}