What are regional price parities (RPPs)?
Regional price parities (RPPs) are a Bureau of Economic Analysis measure of local price levels, expressed as a percentage of the national average, that let you compare buying power across states and metro areas for a given year.
What it means
The BEA publishes RPPs so you can compare how far the same dollar goes in different places — an RPP above 100 means prices run above the national average, below 100 means below. They add cost-of-living context next to local pay figures and are not a salary outcome claim. They describe area price levels only; they are not a personal take-home-pay or affordability estimate.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities: https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area
Citation Ledger
| ID | Supports | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT-01 | Definition source for What are regional price parities (RPPs)? | Official source page | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities |