Two recent blog posts used GeoFRED maps of regional price parities (RPPs) to show how the cost of living varies throughout the country. RPPs measure the differences in the price levels of goods and services across regions for a given year. For states and metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), higher price levels were generally concentrated on the east and west coasts with lower RPPs in the middle section of the country. These measurements were then used to calculate real per capita personal income and accurately compare the purchasing power of income in different areas of the country.
For more information on states, click here.
For more information on MSAs, click here.
follow @stlouisfed