Opportunity cost calculator

You'd miss out on $967.15 if you invested it instead of spending it

Future value of that money: $1,967.15

Opportunity cost is what you'd give up earning by spending that money instead of investing it. Assumes a constant return. This is not financial advice.

This opportunity cost calculator works out how much you’d miss out on earning by spending an amount now instead of investing it for a number of years at a given annual return.

Every dollar has a future

Spending $1,000 today doesn’t just cost you those $1,000 — it also costs whatever that money could have earned if invested. Seeing it in numbers helps separate an impulse purchase from a decision you’re comfortable with.

Example

Spend $1,000 instead of investing it for 10 years at 7% annual return, and that money would have grown to about $1,967 — meaning the real cost of that purchase is closer to $967 in missed growth, not just the $1,000 spent.

For guidance only, assuming a constant return — not financial advice.

FAQ

What is opportunity cost?

It's the value of what you give up by making a choice. In money terms, it's what you'd miss out on earning by spending an amount instead of investing it.

What is it useful for?

It puts a purchase in perspective: seeing what that money could be worth in a few years if invested helps you tell an impulse buy from a good decision.

Does it account for taxes or inflation?

No, it assumes a constant return with no taxes or inflation adjustment. It's a simplified estimate meant for comparison, not a precise projection.