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What does a Cost Estimators salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Cost Estimators earning $80,530 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $78,873 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $49,820 | $48,795 | $-1,024 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $62,600 | $61,312 | $-1,287 |
| Median (P50) | $80,530 | $78,873 | $-1,656 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $100,830 | $98,756 | $-2,073 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $129,330 | $126,669 | $-2,660 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $80,530 keeps most of its value at $78,873 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Cost Estimators is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $80,530 nominal nets out to $78,874 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Cost Estimators.
Virginia's rank of #33 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Cost Estimators trails the national half-way line.
Where does Cost Estimators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #33 out of 51 states for Cost Estimators after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Cost Estimators take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →
A Cost Estimators in Virginia earns a median salary of $80,530 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $78,873 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (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 Virginia: $80,530 x (100 / 102.1) = $78,873. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Cost Estimators's nominal salary of $80,530 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $78,873. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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