A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Groceries NAT. AVG.
30%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index Marion Illinois National
Cost of living8998100
Groceries97100100
Health care96100100
Housing7095100
Transportation99101100
Utilities9899100
Lifestyle & Entertainment95100100
Household Items99100100
Education & Childcare96100100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Marion, IL

The cost of living in Marion affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Marion is 89, which is 11% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Marion Affordable?

Is Marion an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Marion, the median home price is 31.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 25.4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Marion come in at $65,764, which is 19.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Marion?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Marion, healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Marion, the groceries index is 3.4% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Marion comes in at 2.5% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Marion cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Marion is 9% lower than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Marion is 11% lower than the national average
  • Marion housing is 30% lower than the national average
  • Illinois general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois state income tax is 91% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Marion

See all the best places to live around Marion

Compare Marion, IL Cost of Living

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      Cost of living index
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      Transportation index
      Utilities index
      Lifestyle index
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      Educare index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$104,801$8,733$2,445$3,144
      Renters$46,118$3,843$1,076$1,384
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Marion, IL, 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 $104,801. This would allow for a maximum of $2,445 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $46,118 which would result in a maximum of $1,076 to be spent on rental costs.

      Illinois Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Illinois 6.25% 10.25%

      Illinois Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Illinois 4.95% 4.95%

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      New Burnside, IL1377624.2%
      Hurst, IL7817821.7%
      Zeigler, IL1,8267921.2%
      Bush, IL3147921.1%
      Orient, IL4467920.7%
      Marion, IL18,0228911.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Redland, MD18,02214343.3%
      Parole, MD18,01214646.1%
      Hermiston, OR18,0091055.0%
      Bostonia, CA18,00814140.9%
      Centralia, WA18,0081054.8%
      Marion, IL18,0228911.0%
      Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.