Determine exactly how much rising prices are impacting your specific household budget compared to the same time last year.
Calculate Your Personal Inflation
Category
Monthly Cost (1 Year Ago)
Monthly Cost (Today)
Groceries & Dining
Housing & Rent
Transport & Gas
Utilities & Bills
Other Expenses
Your Personal Inflation Rate0.0%
Total Monthly Spend (1 Year Ago)$0.00
Total Monthly Spend (Today)$0.00
Extra Cost Per Month$0.00
Projected Extra Cost Per Year$0.00
Why Use a Personal Inflation Rate Calculator?
You often hear about the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the news, which reports the "official" inflation rate. However, the CPI is a national average based on a standardized basket of goods that includes everything from used cars to airline tickets. It rarely reflects the specific spending habits of an individual household.
Your personal inflation rate measures the change in prices for the goods and services you actually buy. If you are a vegan who walks to work, the price of gas and meat won't affect you. Conversely, if you have a long commute and rent a large apartment, rising fuel and housing costs will hit you harder than the national average.
How This Calculation Works
This calculator compares your aggregate monthly expenses from a base period (typically one year ago) to your current expenses. The formula used is:
Step 1: Sum total expenses from the previous period (Base Expenditure).
Step 2: Sum total expenses from the current period (Current Expenditure).
Step 3: Calculate the difference and divide by the Base Expenditure.
If your rate is higher than the national CPI: You are likely heavily invested in categories that are experiencing rapid price hikes (often housing, food, or energy). Consider substituting expensive items or renegotiating service contracts.
If your rate is lower than the national CPI: Your lifestyle is somewhat insulated from current market volatility. This might be because you have a fixed-rate mortgage, own an electric vehicle, or have stable grocery habits.
Strategies to Combat Personal Inflation
Conduct an Audit: Use the breakdown above to see which category has jumped the most. Is it food? Transportation? Target that specific category for cuts.
Substitute Brands: "Trading down" to store brands or generic versions can save 15-30% on grocery bills immediately.
Lock in Rates: If rents are rising, try to sign a longer lease. If energy prices are volatile, look for fixed-rate utility plans.
Reduce Usage: Sometimes price isn't negotiable, but volume is. Carpooling, meal planning to reduce waste, and energy efficiency can lower the "Total Cost Today" even if unit prices remain high.
function calculatePersonalInflation() {
// Get values for Old period
var foodOld = parseFloat(document.getElementById('foodOld').value) || 0;
var housingOld = parseFloat(document.getElementById('housingOld').value) || 0;
var transOld = parseFloat(document.getElementById('transOld').value) || 0;
var utilOld = parseFloat(document.getElementById('utilOld').value) || 0;
var otherOld = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherOld').value) || 0;
// Get values for New period
var foodNew = parseFloat(document.getElementById('foodNew').value) || 0;
var housingNew = parseFloat(document.getElementById('housingNew').value) || 0;
var transNew = parseFloat(document.getElementById('transNew').value) || 0;
var utilNew = parseFloat(document.getElementById('utilNew').value) || 0;
var otherNew = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherNew').value) || 0;
// Calculate Totals
var totalOld = foodOld + housingOld + transOld + utilOld + otherOld;
var totalNew = foodNew + housingNew + transNew + utilNew + otherNew;
// Validation
if (totalOld 0) {
document.getElementById('rateOutput').style.color = "#d32f2f"; // Red for inflation
} else {
document.getElementById('rateOutput').style.color = "#2e7d32"; // Green for deflation
}
document.getElementById('totalOldOutput').innerText = "$" + totalOld.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('totalNewOutput').innerText = "$" + totalNew.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('diffMonthOutput').innerText = (difference >= 0 ? "+" : "") + "$" + difference.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('diffYearOutput').innerText = (annualDifference >= 0 ? "+" : "") + "$" + annualDifference.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
// Show result box
document.getElementById('pirResult').style.display = "block";
}