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 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Marion has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Marion ranks as #53 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Marion, check out:
Marion Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
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 96.
The Groceries index in Marion is 100.
The Health index in Marion is 87.
The Housing index in Marion is 93.
The Transportation index in Marion is 91.
The Utilities index in Marion is 99.
| Living Expense | Marion | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 87 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 91 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 94 | 100 |
Marion Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Marion Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Marion is $271,355.
The Median Rent in Marion is $961.
The Median Income in Marion is $86,743.
The Home Value To Income in Marion is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Marion is 0.13x.
Marion, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Marion Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Marion Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Marion Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Marion Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Marion SnackAbility
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, 1.0x Marion.
Central, LA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Marion.
Coralville, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.1x Marion.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 137,264 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Coralville, IA | 23,234 | 106 | 1.1x |
| La Porte, IN | 22,449 | 85 | 0.9x |
| North Liberty, IA | 21,125 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Hiawatha, IA | 7,206 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Independence, IA | 6,164 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Anamosa, IA | 5,629 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Manchester, IA | 5,191 | 85 | 0.9x |
