Opportunity Cost Calculator
Compare growing your money in a savings account vs. investing it in the market.
Inputs
$
$
20 yr
140
Saving · 4.5%
Final Balance
$218,617
Nominal after 20 yr
Total Contributed
$130,000
Total Growth
$88,617
Investing · 8%
Final Balance
$343,778
Nominal after 20 yr
Total Contributed
$130,000
Total Growth
$213,778
By investing instead of saving, you'd end up with
+$125,161
In nominal dollars · 20-year horizon
Growth Over Time
Saving (4.5%) vs. investing (8%) · nominal dollars
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Nominal values
| Year | Contributed | Saving | Investing | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16,000 | $16,585 | $17,055 | +$470 |
| 2 | $22,000 | $23,472 | $24,695 | +$1,224 |
| 3 | $28,000 | $30,676 | $32,970 | +$2,295 |
| 4 | $34,000 | $38,210 | $41,932 | +$3,722 |
| 5 | $40,000 | $46,091 | $51,637 | +$5,546 |
| 6 | $46,000 | $54,333 | $62,148 | +$7,814 |
| 7 | $52,000 | $62,955 | $73,531 | +$10,576 |
| 8 | $58,000 | $71,972 | $85,859 | +$13,887 |
| 9 | $64,000 | $81,404 | $99,210 | +$17,806 |
| 10 | $70,000 | $91,269 | $113,669 | +$22,400 |
| 11 | $76,000 | $101,587 | $129,329 | +$27,742 |
| 12 | $82,000 | $112,379 | $146,288 | +$33,909 |
| 13 | $88,000 | $123,667 | $164,655 | +$40,988 |
| 14 | $94,000 | $135,474 | $184,546 | +$49,072 |
| 15 | $100,000 | $147,823 | $206,088 | +$58,265 |
| 16 | $106,000 | $160,739 | $229,419 | +$68,679 |
| 17 | $112,000 | $174,249 | $254,685 | +$80,436 |
| 18 | $118,000 | $188,379 | $282,049 | +$93,670 |
| 19 | $124,000 | $203,158 | $311,684 | +$108,525 |
| 20 | $130,000 | $218,617 | $343,778 | +$125,161 |