Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Cooks, Restaurant salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Cooks, Restaurant earning $38,060 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $42,148 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Montana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $29,380 | $32,535 | +$3,155 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $35,100 | $38,870 | +$3,770 |
| Median (P50) | $38,060 | $42,148 | +$4,088 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $43,910 | $48,626 | +$4,716 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,670 | $52,790 | +$5,120 |
A Cooks, Restaurant in Montana earns $38,060 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $42,148 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 90.3 means a basket of goods and services costs about 9.7% less than the national average. For a Cooks, Restaurant, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $38,060 for Montana's cost of living yields $42,148 — a 10.7% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Cooks, Restaurant, Montana places #4 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Cooks, Restaurant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #4 out of 51 states for Cooks, Restaurant after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Cooks, Restaurant take-home pay in Montana after taxes →
A Cooks, Restaurant in Montana earns a median salary of $38,060 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $42,148 — a +10.7% difference.
Montana's cost of living is 9.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Montana is 90.3 (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 Cooks, Restaurant in Montana: $38,060 x (100 / 90.3) = $42,148. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cooks, Restaurant in Montana enjoys 10.7% 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.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.