A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
10%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Marion Iowa National
Cost of living9690100
Goods & Services9796100
Groceries9797100
Health care10199100
Housing9073100
Transportation10098100
Utilities10396100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Marion, IA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Marion? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Marion stands at 96, making it 4% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Marion are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Marion can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Marion Affordable?

Is Marion an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Marion is 4.1% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 23.7% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Marion has a median household income of $72,500, which is 31.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Marion?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Marion, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6%, and the income tax rates commence at 0.33%.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Marion, healthcare costs are 0.6% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Marion, the transportation index is 0% equal to the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Marion cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Marion Area
Search Homes for Sale in Marion, IA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Marion is 7% higher than the Iowa average
  • The cost of living in Marion is 4% lower than the national average
  • Marion housing is 10% lower than the national average
  • Iowa general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Iowa state income tax is 85% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Marion

See all the best places to live around Marion

Compare Marion, IA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Marion?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Marion?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Marion poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$89,957$7,496$2,099$2,699
      Renters$34,757$2,896$811$1,043
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Marion, IA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Marion homeowners, is $89,957. This would allow for a maximum of $2,099 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $34,757 which would result in a maximum of $811 to be spent on rental costs.

      Iowa Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Iowa 6% 7%

      Iowa Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Iowa 0.33% 8.53%

      Goods & Services

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.80$24.266.3%
      Beauty Salon $35.19$45.5622.8%
      Toothpaste $3.83$3.703.5%
      Shampoo $1.35$1.285.2%
      Movie $11.73$12.133.3%
      Bowling $17.11$18.004.9%

      Groceries

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.61$5.843.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.37$1.5713.1%
      Milk $4.85$4.673.7%
      Potatoes $4.81$4.932.5%
      Pizza $11.32$12.096.3%
      Beer $9.97$10.414.2%

      Health Care

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.67$125.688.0%
      Doctor $158.97$135.7817.1%
      Dentist $105.87$113.296.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.57$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $439.90$468.606.1%

      Housing

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Home Price $177,200.00$184,700.004.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,718.48$2,346.6926.8%
      Apartment Rent $724.00$949.0023.7%

      Transportation

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.35$3.463.1%
      Tire Balancing $64.40$59.927.5%

      Utilities

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $205.48$193.995.9%
      Phone $187.56$192.252.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Stone City, IA60991.4%
      Prairieburg, IA1658515.2%
      Martelle, IA3098713.0%
      Central City, IA1,2079010.0%
      Springville, IA1,212928.5%
      Marion, IA39,910964.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Streamwood, IL39,91711212.3%
      Friendswood, TX39,89311716.6%
      Chelsea, MA39,87814039.5%
      The Acreage, FL39,86312827.8%
      Calexico, CA39,84111413.6%
      Marion, IA39,910964.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.