What does a Budget Analysts salary really buy you in Iowa?
Iowa is 11.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.4, meaning prices are 11.6% lower the national average. A Budget Analysts earning $83,210 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $94,128 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $61,120 | $69,140 | +$8,020 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $69,440 | $78,552 | +$9,112 |
| Median (P50) | $83,210 | $94,128 | +$10,918 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $98,120 | $110,995 | +$12,875 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $114,590 | $129,626 | +$15,036 |
A Budget Analysts in Iowa earns $83,210 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $94,128 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Budget Analysts salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #8 out of 50 states for Budget Analysts after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Budget Analysts in Iowa earns a median salary of $83,210 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $94,128 — a +13.1% difference.
Iowa's cost of living is 11.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Iowa is 88.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Budget Analysts in Iowa: $83,210 x (100 / 88.4) = $94,128. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Budget Analysts in Iowa enjoys 13.1% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.