What does a Registered Nurse 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 Registered Nurse earning $86,100 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $93,790 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) | $65,690 | $71,557 | +$5,867 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,020 | $84,989 | +$6,969 |
| Median (P50) | $86,100 | $93,790 | +$7,690 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $100,220 | $109,172 | +$8,952 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $118,460 | $129,041 | +$10,581 |
A Registered Nurse in Idaho earns $86,100 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $93,790 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Registered Nurse salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #16 out of 50 states for Registered Nurse after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Registered Nurse in Idaho earns a median salary of $86,100 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $93,790 — 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 Registered Nurse in Idaho: $86,100 x (100 / 91.8) = $93,790. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Registered Nurse 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.