Marion, AR Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Marion. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Marion compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Marion, Arkansas

Cost of living in Marion research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Marion is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Arkansas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

97 Cost of living index 1.0x lower vs US
#61 Cheapest in Arkansas (of 70)
#2,094 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$238,641 Median home value
$1,148 Median rent
$78,330 Median income
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What is the cost of living in Marion, AR?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Marion has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arkansas, Marion has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.

The standard of living in Marion ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the Natural State.

For more reading on life in Marion, check out:

Marion Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Marion. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Marion is 99.

  • The Groceries index in Marion is 98.

  • The Health index in Marion is 91.

  • The Housing index in Marion is 100.

  • The Transportation index in Marion is 97.

  • The Utilities index in Marion is 102.

Living Expense Marion Arkansas National Average
Overall 97 85 100
Services 99 95 100
Groceries 98 93 100
Health 91 68 100
Housing 100 96 100
Transportation 97 92 100
Utilities 102 92 100

Marion Cost Of Living Compared To Arkansas Averages

Services
Marion 99
Arkansas avg 95
Groceries
Marion 98
Arkansas avg 93
Health
Marion 91
Arkansas avg 68
Housing
Marion 100
Arkansas avg 96
Transportation
Marion 97
Arkansas avg 92
Utilities
Marion 102
Arkansas avg 92

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around Arkansas, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Marion, AR Housing Cost Breakdown

$238,641Median Home Value
$1,148Median Rent
$78,330Median Income

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arkansas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Marion is $238,641.

  • The Median Rent in Marion is $1,148.

  • The Median Income in Marion is $78,330.

  • The Home Value To Income in Marion is 3.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Marion is 0.18x.

Statistic Marion Arkansas United States
Median Home Value $238,641 $222,050 $332,700
Median Rent $1,148 $947 $1,413
Median Income $78,330 $60,773 $80,734
Home Value To Income 3.0x 3.7x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.19x 0.21x

Marion, AR Costs By Category

Detailed Marion Services costs vs. Arkansas
Item Marion Arkansas
Shampoo $1.11 $1.28
Movie $11.99 $12.13
Bowling $13.75 $18
Haircut $26.94 $24.26
Beauty Salon $41.92 $45.56
Detailed Marion Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
Item Marion Arkansas
Ground Beef $6.1 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.71 $4.67
Potatoes $5.15 $4.93
Pizza $10.66 $12.09
Beer $9.95 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.62 $3.7
Detailed Marion Health costs vs. Arkansas
Item Marion Arkansas
Optometrist $77.39 $125.68
Doctor $124.94 $135.78
Dentist $91.51 $113.29
Detailed Marion Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
Item Marion Arkansas
Gasoline $3.14 $3.46
Tire Balancing $55.67 $59.92
Detailed Marion Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
Item Marion Arkansas
All Electricity $163.38 $193.99
Phone $192.72 $192.25

Marion SnackAbility

7Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 8/10
Housing 7/10
Affordability 9/10
Diversity 9/10
Safety 3/10
Amenities 7/10
Education 8/10
Commute 8.5/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Marion

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Marion. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Memphis, TN has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Marion.

  • Bartlett, TN has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Marion.

  • Southaven, MS has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Marion.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Marion
Memphis, TN 618,980 93 1.0x
Bartlett, TN 56,876 102 1.1x
Southaven, MS 56,226 95 1.0x
Collierville, TN 51,515 118 1.2x
Olive Branch, MS 47,019 103 1.1x
Germantown, TN 40,673 121 1.2x
Horn Lake, MS 26,647 89 0.9x
West Memphis, AR 23,929 85 0.9x
Arlington, TN 15,205 115 1.2x
Atoka, TN 10,385 103 1.1x