States › North Carolina › Marion

Is Marion, NC expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,19432% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$55,342about $4,612/month · 36% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$163,50051% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 76% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $47,760 a year. That is $23 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of North Carolina. It is number 51 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Marion
$1,194
Porters Neck
$1,581
Oak Ridge
$3,166
King
$942
Kill Devil Hills
$2,477
Half Moon
$1,737
Forest City
$855

How much do households earn in Marion?

Under $25k
27.2%
$25k–50k
20.0%
$50k–100k
34.0%
$100k–150k
8.0%
$150k+
4.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Marion

SizeMarionU.S. average
1 bedroom$464$1,324
2 bedrooms$772$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,056$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Marion overall?

Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).

Housing
81
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
89
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Marion, so the North Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Marion

🏛️ Property tax$922a year · 0.56% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$144a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Marion

Commute to work21.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree15.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home51.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line23.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Marion?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $60 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,194
Owning
$1,134

Owning assumes a typical $163,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $16,350 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Marion, NC?

Renting in Marion costs a median of about $1,194 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

How much do I need to make to live in Marion?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $47,760 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Marion cheap or expensive?

Marion is rated OK: rent takes 25.9% of the typical household income of $55,342. It ranks 51st cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Marion?

The median homeowner in Marion pays $922 a year in property taxes, about 0.56% of the median home value.

Is Marion more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in North Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Marion?

The median home value in Marion is $163,500, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.

7,579 people live in Marion. Numbers are typical (middle) values.