What is the cost of living in Anderson, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Anderson has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Anderson has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Anderson ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Anderson ranks as the #72 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Anderson, check out:
Anderson Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Anderson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Anderson is 102.
The Groceries index in Anderson is 101.
The Health index in Anderson is 75.
The Housing index in Anderson is 97.
The Transportation index in Anderson is 105.
The Utilities index in Anderson is 100.
| Living Expense | Anderson | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 97 | 100 |
Anderson 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
Anderson, 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 Anderson is $272,108.
The Median Rent in Anderson is $975.
The Median Income in Anderson is $46,933.
The Home Value To Income in Anderson is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Anderson is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Anderson | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $272,108 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $975 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,933 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Anderson, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Anderson Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Anderson | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.37 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.74 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Anderson Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Anderson | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.78 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.45 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Anderson Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Anderson | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.21 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.75 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.8 | $113.29 |
Detailed Anderson Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Anderson | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.07 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed Anderson Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Anderson | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.75 | $192.25 |
Anderson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Anderson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Anderson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Clemson, SC has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Anderson.
Powdersville, SC has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Anderson.
Centerville, SC has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Anderson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Anderson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson, SC | 18,072 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Powdersville, SC | 10,771 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Centerville, SC | 7,049 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Homeland Park, SC | 6,632 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Central, SC | 5,320 | 92 | 1.0x |
