| Index | Marion | Indiana | National |
| Cost of living | 82 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 49 | 72 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 93 | 94 | 100 |
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 82, which is 18% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Marion housing costs are 51.5% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Marion residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
Wondering if Marion is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Marion, for example, the median home price is 61.6% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 27.9% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Marion boasting a median household income of $52,769, which is 35.1% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Marion starts at 7% and the income tax rates start at 3.15%.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Marion, the groceries index is 2.1% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Marion, the utilities index stands at 1.2% lower than the national average.
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 index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $67,530 | $5,628 | $1,576 | $2,026 |
| Renters | $36,645 | $3,054 | $855 | $1,099 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Indiana | 7% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Indiana | 3.15% | 3.15% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Sims, IN | 95 | 97 | 3.1% |
| Point Isabel, IN | 95 | 97 | 3.1% |
| Mier, IN | 44 | 97 | 3.1% |
| Landess, IN | 93 | 95 | 5.5% |
| Jalapa, IN | 146 | 97 | 3.1% |
| Marion, IN | 28,405 | 82 | 17.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| South Laurel, MD | 28,393 | 129 | 28.9% |
| Westport, CT | 28,385 | 221 | 120.6% |
| Woolwich, ON | 28,438 | n/a | |
| Fort Saskatchewan, AB | 28,368 | n/a | |
| Tualatin, OR | 28,448 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Marion, IN | 28,405 | 82 | 17.7% |
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