Gaming math lab · Progression · Original calculator
Upgrade cost growth and budget calculator
On this page
Start with the cost of your next upgrade and multiply each following cost by 1 + growth/100. Sum the sequence to compare it with your budget.
Generic mathematical model, not a named game’s simulator. All starting values are invented examples. Supply verified values for your game and check the assumptions below.
Your scenario
Formula and units
Cost at planned step k = first cost × (1 + growth/100)^(k − 1). Total = sum of all planned step costs. Affordability counts complete steps with cumulative cost no greater than budget.
Worked example
Starting at 100 with 10% growth gives costs 100, 110, 121, 133.1 and 146.41. Five upgrades total 610.51. A budget of 500 buys four of these planned upgrades and leaves a shortfall of 110.51 for the complete plan.
How to use this comparison
Enter the next price you will actually face, not the first price from a fresh character unless that is your starting point. Inspect whether the following prices really share the entered growth rate. Use zero growth for a flat cost sequence.
Read the result correctly
The affordable count is limited to the number of upgrades you asked to plan. It does not search beyond that horizon. For long plans, the table shows the first thirty steps plus the final step; the total still includes every planned step. Large or overflowing sequences are rejected instead of displaying infinity.
Model boundaries
The model assumes unrounded geometric growth. It does not reproduce a named game’s upgrade table, level caps, rounding rules, discounts or mixed currency costs. When your game uses hand-authored prices, this model is not a substitute for that table.
Method: original arithmetic implementation and editorial examples reviewed October 16, 2026. Outputs follow the displayed formula and your inputs. We have not tested these mechanics inside a particular game.