Marion, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Marion, IL 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 Illinois, 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 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Marion is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Marion ranks as the #76 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Marion ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Marion is $173,732.

  • The median income in Marion is $57,281.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Marion's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Marion, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Marion has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Marion has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Marion ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #260 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Marion, check out:

76 out of 336
In Illinois
1,060 out of 6,489
In America

Marion Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

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 100.

  • The Groceries index in Marion is 94.

  • The Health index in Marion is 89.

  • The Housing index in Marion is 71.

  • The Transportation index in Marion is 92.

  • The Utilities index in Marion is 122.

Living Expense Marion Illinois National Average
Overall 89 97 100
Services 100 95 100
Groceries 94 99 100
Health 89 93 100
Housing 71 95 100
Transportation 92 102 100
Utilities 122 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Marion Cost of Living Vs. IL

Marion, IL Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, 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 $173,732.

  • The Median Rent in Marion is $878.

  • The Median Income in Marion is $57,281.

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

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

Statistic Marion Illinois United States
Median Home Value $173,732 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $878 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $57,281 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.0x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.21x
$173,732
Median Home Value
$878
Median Rent
$57,281
Median Income

Marion, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Marion Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Marion Illinois
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $13.11 $12.13
Bowling $16.17 $18
Haircut $25.34 $24.26
Beauty Salon $44.12 $45.56

Detailed Marion Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Marion Illinois
Ground Beef $5.74 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.37 $1.57
Milk $4.5 $4.67
Potatoes $5.13 $4.93
Pizza $11.24 $12.09
Beer $9.75 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.7 $3.7

Detailed Marion Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Marion Illinois
Optometrist $94.06 $125.68
Doctor $105.07 $135.78
Dentist $103.51 $113.29

Detailed Marion Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Marion Illinois
Gasoline $3.25 $3.46
Tire Balancing $50.23 $59.92

Detailed Marion Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Marion Illinois
All Electricity $259.32 $193.99
Phone $189.86 $192.25

Marion SnackAbility

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

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:

  • Elizabethtown, KY has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Marion.

  • Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Marion.

  • Jackson, MO has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Marion.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Marion
Elizabethtown, KY 31,870 95 1.1x
Carbondale, IL 21,813 87 1.0x
Jackson, MO 15,532 93 1.0x
Mount Vernon, IL 14,492 83 0.9x
Herrin, IL 12,271 89 1.0x
Murphysboro, IL 6,804 82 0.9x
Carterville, IL 5,822 98 1.1x
Pinckneyville, IL 5,055 80 0.9x

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