City Comparison
Anshan vs Schenectady
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Anshan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Anshan
Schenectady
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Anshan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
80% lower compared to Schenectady.
Housing costs are a major driver: Anshan's average rent is
83% lower than Schenectady's.
| Metric | Anshan | Schenectady | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $241 | $1,425 | -83% |
| Groceries | $152 | $442 | -66% |
| Utilities | $125 | $323 | -61% |
| Transport | $50 | $899 | -94% |
| Healthcare | $50 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $618 | $3,089 | -80% |
| Cost Index | 35 | 99 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Schenectady offers 80% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Schenectady delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Anshan is estimated at
$8,700 vs $70,000 in Schenectady.
| Metric | Anshan | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $11,208 | $55,374 |
| Salary Needed | $8,700 | $70,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 32,023 idx | 55,933 idx |
| Household Income | $11,088 | $58,399 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Anshan | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 55.00% | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Schenectady has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Anshan.
Anshan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Schenectady leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Anshan | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 60.0/10 | 50.0/10 |
| Walkability | 55.0/10 | 60.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Anshan is the larger city
— approximately 22.2x the population of Schenectady.
From a growth perspective, Schenectady is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Anshan | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,531,601 | 68,847 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.56% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $11.3B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Anshan
Advantages
Anshan boasts a significantly low cost of living, with monthly expenses for a single person around $622 including rent, making it highly affordable compared to global averages.
The city is a major industrial powerhouse, particularly in steel production, with Ansteel being a global leader, providing substantial employment opportunities.
Anshan is exceptionally rich in mineral resources, including vast reserves of iron ore, magnesite, talcum, and jade, supporting a strong mining sector.
The city has been recognized for its urban quality, holding titles such as Nationally Recognized Civilized City, Clean City, Forest City, and Garden City.
Public transportation is very economical, with a monthly pass costing approximately $17.57, contributing to overall affordability.
Drawbacks
The prefecture-level city experienced a population decrease between 2010 and 2020, indicating potential demographic challenges.
The average monthly net salary of around $934 is lower than the national GDP per capita, suggesting relatively modest income levels.
Anshan's climate features hot, humid summers and cold, arid winters, which might not appeal to everyone.
Specific, up-to-date data for certain city metrics like unemployment rate and detailed economic growth figures are not readily available, making comprehensive analysis challenging.
While efforts are made to reduce pollution, the heavy industrial focus of the city could still pose environmental considerations.
Schenectady
Advantages
Exceptional Livability Score of 78/100 [22].
Cost of living is 18% lower than the New York State average [22].
Median sale price of homes increased by 6.2% year-over-year as of June 2026 [25].
Revitalized downtown area with growing tech firms and cultural attractions [41].
Schenectady County experienced a 5% GDP growth in 2023 [8].
Drawbacks
High crime rates, with a safety grade of 'F' and violent crime rates significantly above national averages [8, 22].
Homeownership rate (45.6%) is lower than the national average (65.2%) [3].
Median household income ($58,399) is lower than the national average.
Moderate public transit score of 50/100 [27].
Higher than average transportation costs (5% higher than national average) [21].
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Anshan
#21Liaoning, China
71.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$241
Avg Salary
$11,208
Cost Index
35
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
60.0/10
Walkability
55.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.56%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
68
Business
60
Schenectady
#164New York, USA
38.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,425
Avg Salary
$55,374
Cost Index
99
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
50.0/10
Walkability
60.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
78
Business
65
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