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Opportunity Cost Calculator

See the true cost of any purchase by calculating what it would be worth if invested instead.

The annual return you would expect from a low-cost index fund (historical average ~7% real).

Results

Future Value if Invested$38,697
Opportunity Cost$28,697

📖What is it?

Opportunity cost is the value of what you give up when you choose to spend money instead of invest it. This calculator shows what any purchase would be worth in the future if the money had been invested instead — revealing the true long-term cost of spending.

🎯How to use

Enter the amount you plan to spend (or have spent), the expected annual return of an alternative investment, and the number of years to compound. The calculator shows the future value of that money and the opportunity cost.

💡Example scenario

Spending $10,000 on a luxury vacation might feel manageable, but at a 7% annual return over 20 years, that money would have grown to approximately $38,697 — an opportunity cost of $28,697.

🏆Pro tip

This framework is powerful for large discretionary purchases. For everyday expenses, consider a monthly or annual version: $500/month in subscriptions and dining invested at 7% for 30 years equals over $600,000.