A+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
48%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Ohio National
Cost of living8490100
Goods & Services9796100
Groceries9899100
Health care8194100
Housing5274100
Transportation10296100
Utilities9898100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Marion, OH

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 84, which is 16% 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 47.8% 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.

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 57.9% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 24.2% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Marion come in at $59,805, which is 26.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Marion?

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

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 2.2% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Marion displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Marion is 7% lower than the Ohio average
  • The cost of living in Marion is 16% lower than the national average
  • Marion housing is 48% lower than the national average
  • Ohio general sales tax is 13% higher than the national average
  • Ohio state income tax is 6% 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, OH Cost of Living

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      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$80,122$6,677$1,869$2,404
      Renters$42,094$3,508$982$1,263
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Marion, OH, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Marion have a median income of $80,122. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,869 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $42,094, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $982.

      Ohio Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Ohio 5.75% 8%

      Ohio Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Ohio 2.76% 3.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.08$27.621.9%
      Beauty Salon $50.33$51.111.5%
      Toothpaste $4.41$4.097.8%
      Shampoo $1.43$1.547.3%
      Movie $11.66$12.889.5%
      Yoga $10.33$19.6647.5%

      Groceries

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.56$7.701.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.55$1.666.8%
      Milk $4.66$4.731.5%
      Potatoes $4.97$5.265.4%
      Pizza $11.99$12.766.1%
      Beer $10.47$10.550.8%

      Health Care

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $99.78$140.0628.8%
      Doctor $130.05$153.8215.5%
      Dentist $99.00$123.1519.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.52$11.731.8%
      Lipitor $16.74$23.6129.1%

      Housing

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Home Price $137,514.00$326,622.0057.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,477.58$2,480.250.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,094.00$1,444.0024.2%

      Transportation

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.96$3.063.0%
      Tire Balancing $74.97$65.2115.0%

      Utilities

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $217.64$220.121.1%
      Phone $189.81$195.713.0%
      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.
      Radnor, OH137937.0%
      Marseilles, OH857920.7%
      La Rue, OH5998218.4%
      New Bloomington, OH3588317.0%
      North Robinson, OH4247722.5%
      Marion, OH36,9208416.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mount Juliet, TN36,91511514.8%
      Calumet City, IL36,968963.9%
      Foothill Farms, CA36,97712827.9%
      Randallstown, MD36,84111515.4%
      Oildale, CA36,79211010.0%
      Marion, OH36,9208416.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.