What is the cost of living in Marion, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Marion has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Marion has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Marion ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Marion ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Marion, check out:
Marion Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
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 100.
The Groceries index in Marion is 102.
The Health index in Marion is 59.
The Housing index in Marion is 101.
The Transportation index in Marion is 101.
The Utilities index in Marion is 98.
| Living Expense | Marion | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 97 | 100 |
Marion Cost Of Living Compared To South Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In South Carolina
- Average Rent In South Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Marion, SC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Carolina, 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 $145,562.
The Median Rent in Marion is $651.
The Median Income in Marion is $30,662.
The Home Value To Income in Marion is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Marion is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Marion | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $145,562 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $651 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $30,662 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Marion, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Marion Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Marion | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.93 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Marion Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Marion | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.15 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.5 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.35 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Marion Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Marion | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Marion Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Marion | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Marion Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Marion | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
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:
Florence, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Marion.
Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Marion.
Conway, SC has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Marion.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | 40,408 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 38,371 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Conway, SC | 27,263 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Socastee, SC | 23,796 | 97 | 1.1x |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 19,855 | 113 | 1.3x |
| Red Hill, SC | 15,920 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Laurinburg, NC | 15,087 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Little River, SC | 11,771 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Murrells Inlet, SC | 10,044 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Hartsville, SC | 7,419 | 92 | 1.1x |
