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 88, 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 98.
The standard of living in Marion ranks as #52 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #284 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Marion, check out:
Marion Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
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 97.
The Groceries index in Marion is 94.
The Health index in Marion is 69.
The Housing index in Marion is 97.
The Transportation index in Marion is 99.
The Utilities index in Marion is 93.
| Living Expense | Marion | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 101 | 100 |
Marion Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, 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, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Marion is $171,752.
The Median Rent in Marion is $921.
The Median Income in Marion is $56,912.
The Home Value To Income in Marion is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Marion is 0.19x.
Marion, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Marion Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Marion Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Marion Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Marion Transportation costs vs. Illinois
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:
Elizabethtown, KY has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Marion.
Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Marion.
Jackson, MO has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Marion.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | 32,576 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Jackson, MO | 15,659 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Mount Vernon, IL | 14,090 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Herrin, IL | 12,226 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Murphysboro, IL | 6,735 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Pinckneyville, IL | 5,018 | 83 | 0.9x |
