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Pella, IA

Cost of living in Marion County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,921/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 33,551 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $769 26%
Federal tax $596 20%
Healthcare $480 16%
Transport $320 11%
Groceries $315 11%
State tax $196 7%
Energy $195 7%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Marion County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$669
per month
1 bedroom
$769
per month
2 bedroom
$976
per month
3 bedroom
$1,176
per month
4 bedroom
$1,294
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Marion County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$78,059
per year
Individual earnings
$46,487
per year
Per capita
$40,540
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Marion County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$211,100
Annual property tax
$2,727

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Marion County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Marion County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
2.5%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Marion County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Marion County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.4 min
Drive alone
79.1%
Public transit
0.2%
Work from home
9.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Marion County

What it costs to live in Marion County each month.

Single person
$2,921
per month
  • Rent $769
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $596
  • State tax $196
Couple
$4,370
per month
  • Rent $976
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $948
  • State tax $346
Family
$6,694
per month
  • Rent $1,176
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $948
  • State tax $346

Frequently asked questions about Marion County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Marion County?

In Marion County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $769 per month, a two-bedroom averages $976 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,176 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Marion County?

In Marion County, IA, the average household income is $78,059 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $46,487 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Marion County?

The estimated cost of living in Marion County, IA is approximately $2,921 per month for a single person, $4,370 for a couple, $6,694 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Marion County?

The combined sales tax rate in Marion County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Marion County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Marion County, IA would need approximately $2,921 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $78,059 per year ($6,505 per month). Marion County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Marion County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Marion County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 2.5% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Marion County?

The average home value in Marion County, IA is $211,100, with average annual property taxes of $2,727, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Marion County compare to other areas?

You can compare Marion County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Marion County is in the Pella, IA metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Marion County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources