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Cost of living in Myrtle Beach, SC

Livability score 67 · cost-of-living index 93.8 (US = 100)

Myrtle Beach, SC
Photo: w:User:Isipeoria via Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

How Myrtle Beach compares

Where Myrtle Beach falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 94 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 94 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $340k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $340k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $170 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $170 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.41% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.41% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 530 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 530 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 36° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 36°

Map of Myrtle Beach

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.8 metro-area #81 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 95.9 metro-area #69 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.34 metro-area #81 of 200
Median household income $63,296 metro-area #153 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $33,006 metro-area #192 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 48.2 years metro-area #195 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 26.6% metro-area #165 of 200
Foreign-born residents 6.6% metro-area #130 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 75.8% metro-area #7 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 5.41% metro-area #122 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +14.7% metro-area #11 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $340,239 metro-area #96 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.4× metro-area #131 of 200
1-yr home appreciation -0.6% metro-area #147 of 200
Price per square foot $170 metro-area #81 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,726 metro-area #122 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 8,374
Median days on market 48 metro-area #189 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.9% state #27 of 200
Combined sales tax 7.44% state #103 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 6.20%
Capital gains tax 6.40% state #140 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 0.41% metro-area #7 of 200
Median property tax paid $1,004 metro-area #11 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 74.6 years metro-area #159 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 14.7% metro-area #177 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 62 metro-area #162 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 state #19 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $40 state #4 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.33% of value (~$652/yr) state #186 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 3
Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #75 of 200
Commute by driving alone 78.3% metro-area #151 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 29.4% metro-area #73 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 17.1¢/kWh state #107 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $154 state #107 of 200
Gasoline $3.05/gal state #45 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $56 state #51 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $97 state #88 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 98.2 — Relatively High metro-area #176 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 state #152 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 40 metro-area #40 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,000 metro-area #44 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 16 metro-area #75 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200
Avg winter low 36°F metro-area #71 of 200
Annual precipitation 51.0" metro-area #167 of 200
Annual snowfall 1.0" metro-area #57 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 64% metro-area #59 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 8a
Frost window 03-10 → 11-20

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 530 state #180 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,900 state #173 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 19 metro-area #174 of 200
Parks 22
Hiking areas 8
Golf courses 13
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 3

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Salaries by occupation in Myrtle Beach

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $154,720
Pharmacists $130,970
Financial Managers $125,920
Physician Assistants $111,050
Software Developers $102,340
Human Resources Managers $101,510
Lawyers $98,500
Marketing Managers $93,800
Physical Therapists $92,690
Construction Managers $92,100
Data Scientists $90,260
General & Operations Managers $82,990
Registered Nurses $79,770
Mechanical Engineers $79,720
Dental Hygienists $77,250
Civil Engineers $69,150
Accountants & Auditors $65,780
Elementary School Teachers $57,260
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $52,190
Real Estate Sales Agents $49,500
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $48,910
Electricians $47,630
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,300
Carpenters $45,500
Graphic Designers $45,360
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $44,540
Medical Assistants $36,750

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