Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links marked with (Ad). If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Urban and Regional Planners Salary in Minnesota: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Urban and Regional Planners salary really buy you in Minnesota?

Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$97,060
Median annual (2025)
+2.4%
Real Purchasing Power
$99,344
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.7)

Minnesota Cost of Living Index

Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Urban and Regional Planners earning $97,060 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $99,344 in an average-cost US state.

MN: 97.7
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $63,460 $64,953 +$1,493
25th Percentile (P25) $80,760 $82,661 +$1,901
Median (P50) $97,060 $99,344 +$2,284
75th Percentile (P75) $108,180 $110,726 +$2,546
90th Percentile (P90) $127,620 $130,624 +$3,004
Key Insight

Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $97,060 keeps most of its value at $99,344 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Minnesota Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.7

With an RPP of 97.7, Minnesota is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Urban and Regional Planners is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+2.4%

After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living, $97,060 nominal nets out to $99,345 in real purchasing power — a small 2.4% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Urban and Regional Planners.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Minnesota

#4 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Urban and Regional Planners, Minnesota places #4 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Urban and Regional Planners (After Cost of Living)

Where does Urban and Regional Planners salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$117,495
RPP 116.6
2. Nevada
$103,775
RPP 96.4
3. Arizona
$102,502
RPP 99.9
$99,344
RPP 97.7
$99,061
RPP 102.3
$97,431
RPP 112.5
7. Oregon
$96,688
RPP 106.6
$93,872
RPP 106.4
9. Alaska
$92,019
RPP 102.0
$91,976
RPP 109.8

Minnesota ranks #4 out of 51 states for Urban and Regional Planners after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Urban and Regional Planners take-home pay in Minnesota after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Urban and Regional Planners in Minnesota after cost of living?

A Urban and Regional Planners in Minnesota earns a median salary of $97,060 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $99,344 — a +2.4% difference.

Is Minnesota expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Urban and Regional Planners in Minnesota: $97,060 x (100 / 97.7) = $99,344. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Urban and Regional Planners in Minnesota financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Urban and Regional Planners 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.

What To Do Next

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Related Salary Pages

Get Monthly Salary Insights & Career Data

Free data-driven career updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Join career-minded Americans who use data to make smarter decisions. Privacy Policy