Asset comparison calculator
Put the same money into the S&P 500, gold, Bitcoin, Ethereum, US real estate, bonds, Treasury bills and oil, all at once or month by month, and see which came out ahead, against an inflation line, with real prices.
Market data through Sep 2026, updated monthly. How we calculate$10,000 put into Bitcoin in Jan 2016 is now worth
Bitcoin came out on top, 33.6× the runner-up, S&P 500 at $46,233. Real estate finished last at $18,801. Just keeping up with prices needed $14,094, and all of them did better. It ends in Jul 2026, the latest month with data for Real estate.
Full results by asset
| Asset | Worth now | Per year | Total return | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $1,555,201 | 61.7% | 15,452% | −76% (Feb 2019) |
| S&P 500 | $46,233 | 15.7% | 362% | −19% (Oct 2022) |
| Gold | $37,095 | 13.3% | 271% | −19% (Jul 2026) |
| Real estate | $18,801 | 6.2% | 88% | −2% (Jan 2023) |
The chart uses a log scale: equal steps up mean equal percentage gains. What each line measures: Bitcoin, Bitcoin monthly average of daily closing prices on Coinbase, in US dollars; S&P 500, S&P 500 monthly average level with dividends reinvested (an index fund, before its small fee); Gold, gold monthly average price in US dollars per ounce; Real estate, S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index: home prices only, without rent, mortgage, upkeep or taxes. Inflation uses the US Consumer Price Index. Monthly averages, data through Jul 2026; no fees or taxes. Past returns do not predict future returns.
How this calculator works
Tick the assets you want to compare, choose a one-time amount or a monthly amount, and pick the months. Every asset gets exactly the same money on the same dates, bought at that month's average price, and is valued at the end month.
Assets have data for different periods, so the comparison starts at the first month every chosen asset has data and ends at the latest month they all have. Bitcoin starts in August 2015 and Ethereum in June 2016; the S&P 500, bonds and T-bills go back much further.
The S&P 500 includes reinvested dividends and bonds and T-bills include their interest, because that is what owning them pays. Gold, oil, crypto and home prices are price only. The pink dashed line is what your money needed to become just to keep up with consumer prices.
When one asset grows far more than the others, the chart switches to a log scale, where each step up is the same percentage gain. That keeps smaller lines from being flattened against the bottom. You can switch it back to a normal scale.
Lump sum: worth now = amount × end price ÷ start price. Monthly: units bought each month = amount ÷ that month's price; worth now = all units × end price.Common questions
Which investment has done best over the long run?
Since the 1970s, the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested has beaten gold, bonds, T-bills and US home prices over most long periods. Bitcoin has grown far faster since 2015, with much deeper falls along the way. Try different start dates: the winner often changes with the period.
Why does real estate look weaker than people expect?
The line is the national home price index only. Owning a rental also earns rent and can use a mortgage, and it costs maintenance, taxes and insurance. Those are personal, so they are left out here. Use it to compare price growth.
Is oil an investment I can buy?
Not directly. The line shows the spot price of a barrel. Oil funds hold futures contracts, and rolling them can make their returns quite different from the spot price.
What are T-bills?
Short-term US government debt. Their rate is close to what a money market fund or high-yield savings account pays, so the T-bill line is a good stand-in for keeping money in cash that earns interest.
Are fees and taxes included?
No. Index funds and gold ETFs charge small yearly fees, and crypto apps often charge more per purchase. Taxes depend on the account you use.
How current is the data?
Every asset updates automatically each month. The page shows the month each comparison ends.
FatDCA calculators are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter, and past returns do not predict future returns.
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