What does a Economists salary really buy you in Idaho?
Idaho is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Idaho's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Economists earning $78,770 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $85,806 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Idaho's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $39,540 | $43,071 | +$3,531 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,890 | $45,631 | +$3,741 |
| Median (P50) | $78,770 | $85,806 | +$7,036 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $117,360 | $127,843 | +$10,483 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $136,400 | $148,583 | +$12,183 |
A Economists in Idaho earns $78,770 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $85,806 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Economists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #33 out of 39 states for Economists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Economists in Idaho earns a median salary of $78,770 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $85,806 — a +8.9% difference.
Idaho's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Idaho is 91.8 (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 Economists in Idaho: $78,770 x (100 / 91.8) = $85,806. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Economists in Idaho enjoys 8.9% 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.