What does a Cost Estimators salary really buy you in Minnesota?
Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Cost Estimators earning $79,950 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $81,832 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $54,430 | $55,711 | +$1,281 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $66,800 | $68,372 | +$1,572 |
| Median (P50) | $79,950 | $81,832 | +$1,882 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $99,270 | $101,606 | +$2,336 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $123,310 | $126,212 | +$2,902 |
Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $79,950 keeps most of its value at $81,832 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Cost Estimators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Minnesota ranks #7 out of 50 states for Cost Estimators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Cost Estimators in Minnesota earns a median salary of $79,950 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $81,832 — a +2.4% difference.
Minnesota's cost of living is 2.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Minnesota is 97.7 (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 Cost Estimators in Minnesota: $79,950 x (100 / 97.7) = $81,832. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cost Estimators in Minnesota enjoys 2.4% 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.