Here is a plot twist: your salary increasing by 50k next year doesn’t mean you’re richer. Because inflation said “not on my watch.”

Let’s keep it real. You remember when pure water was 5 naira? When transport from Yaba to Surulere was 50 naira? When a full meal was 200 naira? Yeah, those days are over. Welcome to the inflation era, where everything costs more but your salary is moving like molasses.

Inflation is that silent thief. It doesn’t announce itself. You just wake up one day and realize your money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. What you bought with 10k last year now costs 15k. Your rent just went up. Fuel tripled. Food prices are doing Olympics-level jumps.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: if inflation is 18% per year (Nigeria’s average recently) and your salary doesn’t increase by at least that much, you’re actually getting POORER. Your purchasing power is shrinking. You’re working the same hours for less actual value.

This calculator shows you the brutal truth so you can plan accordingly.

How to use it:

Step 1: Enter your current monthly expense in the first box. Let’s say you spend 150k per month right now on everything (rent, food, bills, transport, life).

Step 2: Enter the expected inflation rate. The calculator defaults to 18% because that’s where Nigeria has been hovering. If you want to be more conservative (or pessimistic), adjust it. Some years it’s been 20%+.

Step 3: How many years ahead do you want to check? 5 years is standard. It’s far enough to matter but close enough to feel real.

Step 4: Hit “Check Inflation Impact” and prepare yourself.

What the results show you:

Two big boxes: Today’s Cost vs. Future Cost. You’ll see your 150k monthly expense will become something like 342k in 5 years if inflation stays at 18%. Let that sink in. More than DOUBLE.

Then it breaks down the damage: total increase in naira, percentage change, average annual increase, and (here’s the scary one) purchasing power loss. This shows you how much your money’s value has dropped.

The calculator ends with advice: to maintain your lifestyle, your income needs to increase by X% over Y years. That’s your target. That’s what you need to negotiate for at work, or hustle towards in your business, or plan for in your career growth.

Why this matters for you:

Knowing this changes how you think about your future. When you’re deciding whether to ask for that raise? Now you have numbers. When you’re thinking about switching jobs? You know what salary increase actually matters. When you’re planning long-term goals? You’re not using today’s prices.

It also changes how you invest. If inflation is eating 18% per year and your savings account gives you 5% interest, you’re losing 13% annually just by leaving money in savings. You start thinking differently about where to put your money.

Real talk: This calculator can be depressing. Seeing how much more expensive life will be in a few years isn’t fun. But you know what’s worse? Getting there unprepared and surprised. At least now you know. Now you can plan. Now you can make strategic moves instead of just hoping things work out.

Inflation is coming whether you’re ready or not. The only question is: will you plan for it or let it catch you slipping?