Marion, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Marion, IA Summary

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 Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Marion is 97, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Marion is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Marion ranks as the #62 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Marion ranks as the #2,245 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Marion is $268,092.

  • The median income in Marion is $87,105.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
97
Marion's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Marion, IA?

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 Iowa, Marion has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 91.

The standard of living in Marion ranks as #62 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #23 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Marion, check out:

62 out of 85
In Iowa
2,245 out of 6,489
In America

Marion Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

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

  • The Services index in Marion is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Marion is 99.

  • The Health index in Marion is 102.

  • The Housing index in Marion is 90.

  • The Transportation index in Marion is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Marion is 104.

Living Expense Marion Iowa National Average
Overall 97 91 100
Services 98 97 100
Groceries 99 97 100
Health 102 98 100
Housing 90 75 100
Transportation 102 100 100
Utilities 104 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Marion Cost of Living Vs. IA

Marion, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Marion is $268,092.

  • The Median Rent in Marion is $978.

  • The Median Income in Marion is $87,105.

  • The Home Value To Income in Marion is 3.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Marion is 0.13x.

Statistic Marion Iowa United States
Median Home Value $268,092 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $978 $949 $1,348
Median Income $87,105 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.1x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.13x 0.16x 0.21x
$268,092
Median Home Value
$978
Median Rent
$87,105
Median Income

Marion, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Marion Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marion Iowa
Shampoo $1.35 $1.28
Movie $11.73 $12.13
Bowling $17.11 $18.0
Haircut $25.8 $24.26
Beauty Salon $35.19 $45.56

Detailed Marion Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marion Iowa
Ground Beef $5.61 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.37 $1.57
Milk $4.85 $4.67
Potatoes $4.81 $4.93
Pizza $11.32 $12.09
Beer $9.97 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.83 $3.7

Detailed Marion Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marion Iowa
Optometrist $115.67 $125.68
Doctor $158.97 $135.78
Dentist $105.87 $113.29

Detailed Marion Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marion Iowa
Gasoline $3.35 $3.46
Tire Balancing $64.4 $59.92

Detailed Marion Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Marion Iowa
All Electricity $205.48 $193.99
Phone $187.56 $192.25

Marion SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
6
Affordability
9
Diversity
5
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8.5

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:

  • Cedar Rapids, IA has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Marion.

  • Central, LA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.1x Marion.

  • Coralville, IA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Marion.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Marion
Cedar Rapids, IA 136,859 92 0.9x
Central, LA 29,603 106 1.1x
Coralville, IA 22,846 105 1.1x
La Porte, IN 22,125 83 0.9x
North Liberty, IA 20,782 105 1.1x
Hiawatha, IA 7,178 93 1.0x
Independence, IA 6,149 81 0.8x
Anamosa, IA 5,553 88 0.9x
Manchester, IA 5,144 87 0.9x

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