A+
9%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
24%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Anderson South Carolina National
Cost of living9193100
Goods & Services102100100
Groceries9899100
Health care10094100
Housing7680100
Transportation9091100
Utilities92107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Anderson, SC

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Anderson is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Anderson is 91, which is 9% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in Anderson closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Anderson can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Anderson?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 7 residents in Anderson to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 57% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 43% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Anderson Affordable?

Is Anderson an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Anderson, the median home price is 25.3% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 21.7% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Anderson come in at $33,569, which is 39.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Anderson?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Anderson, the utilities index registers 7.8% lower than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Anderson, the groceries index is 1.7% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Anderson cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Anderson is 2% lower than the South Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Anderson is 9% lower than the national average
  • Anderson housing is 24% lower than the national average
  • South Carolina general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • South Carolina state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Anderson

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Compare Anderson, SC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$51,803$4,317$1,209$1,554
      Renters$25,734$2,145$600$772
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Anderson, SC, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Anderson, the median monthly income is $51,803 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,209 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $25,734, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $600 on monthly rental expenses.

      South Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      South Carolina 6% 9%

      South Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      South Carolina 0% 6.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Anderson National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.74$24.266.1%
      Beauty Salon $51.07$45.5612.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.287.2%
      Movie $14.47$12.1319.3%
      Bowling $18.39$18.002.2%

      Groceries

      Item Anderson National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.50$1.574.6%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $5.31$4.937.6%
      Pizza $11.78$12.092.5%
      Beer $10.45$10.410.4%

      Health Care

      Item Anderson National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.21$125.684.4%
      Doctor $123.75$135.788.9%
      Dentist $114.80$113.291.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.43$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $534.74$468.6014.1%

      Housing

      Item Anderson National avg. Difference
      Home Price $138,000.00$184,700.0025.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,581.44$2,346.6932.6%
      Apartment Rent $743.00$949.0021.7%

      Transportation

      Item Anderson National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.2%
      Tire Balancing $56.50$59.925.7%

      Utilities

      Item Anderson National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $170.53$193.9912.1%
      Phone $189.75$192.251.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ware Place, SC1167921.0%
      Iva, SC1,1778317.2%
      Homeland Park, SC6,5708316.8%
      Honea Path, SC3,7538614.0%
      Belton, SC4,4368713.4%
      Anderson, SC27,387918.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Short Pump, VA27,38513232.1%
      Bergenfield, NJ27,37513938.6%
      Oak Forest, IL27,4031044.4%
      Gladstone, MO27,365927.7%
      Huntley, IL27,4131076.8%
      Anderson, SC27,387918.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.