Marion, NC Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Marion, NC 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 North Carolina, 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 85, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Marion is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Marion ranks as the #8 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Marion ranks as the #511 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Marion is $241,450.

  • The median income in Marion is $44,472.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
85
Marion's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Marion, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Marion has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Marion has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Marion ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #149 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Marion, check out:

8 out of 157
In North Carolina
511 out of 6,489
In America

Marion Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

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 99.

  • The Health index in Marion is 109.

  • The Housing index in Marion is 57.

  • The Transportation index in Marion is 91.

  • The Utilities index in Marion is 108.

Living Expense Marion North Carolina National Average
Overall 85 92 100
Services 100 100 100
Groceries 99 99 100
Health 109 106 100
Housing 57 86 100
Transportation 91 93 100
Utilities 108 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Marion Cost of Living Vs. NC

Marion, NC Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, 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 $241,450.

  • The Median Rent in Marion is $687.

  • The Median Income in Marion is $44,472.

  • The Home Value To Income in Marion is 5.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Marion is 0.19x.

Statistic Marion North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $241,450 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $687 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $44,472 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.4x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.2x 0.21x
$241,450
Median Home Value
$687
Median Rent
$44,472
Median Income

Marion, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Marion Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Marion North Carolina
Shampoo $1.33 $1.28
Movie $13.07 $12.13
Bowling $15.89 $18
Haircut $28.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $48.22 $45.56

Detailed Marion Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Marion North Carolina
Ground Beef $6.47 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.61 $4.67
Potatoes $5.27 $4.93
Pizza $10.44 $12.09
Beer $10.44 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.8 $3.7

Detailed Marion Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Marion North Carolina
Optometrist $155.11 $125.68
Doctor $166.73 $135.78
Dentist $113.89 $113.29

Detailed Marion Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Marion North Carolina
Gasoline $3.29 $3.46
Tire Balancing $49.99 $59.92

Detailed Marion Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Marion North Carolina
All Electricity $221.84 $193.99
Phone $186.82 $192.25

Marion SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8
Diversity
9
Safety
5
Amenities
8
Education
4
Commute
7

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:

  • Asheville, NC has a cost of living index of 115, 1.4x Marion.

  • Boone, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.3x Marion.

  • Morganton, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Marion.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Marion
Asheville, NC 94,369 115 1.4x
Boone, NC 19,534 111 1.3x
Morganton, NC 17,541 95 1.1x
Hendersonville, NC 15,253 100 1.2x
Boiling Springs, SC 12,609 93 1.1x
St. Stephens, NC 9,409 90 1.1x
Black Mountain, NC 8,462 109 1.3x
Fletcher, NC 8,022 108 1.3x
Woodfin, NC 7,957 110 1.3x
Etowah, NC 7,765 103 1.2x

Articles About North Carolina

Enjoy The Snack?