What is the cost of living in Murrells Inlet, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Murrells Inlet has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Murrells Inlet has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Murrells Inlet ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Murrells Inlet ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Murrells Inlet, check out:
Murrells Inlet Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Murrells Inlet. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Murrells Inlet is 102.
The Groceries index in Murrells Inlet is 95.
The Health index in Murrells Inlet is 139.
The Housing index in Murrells Inlet is 97.
The Transportation index in Murrells Inlet is 99.
The Utilities index in Murrells Inlet is 98.
| Living Expense | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 139 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 97 | 100 |
Murrells Inlet 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
Murrells Inlet, 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 Murrells Inlet is $395,449.
The Median Rent in Murrells Inlet is $1,751.
The Median Income in Murrells Inlet is $77,438.
The Home Value To Income in Murrells Inlet is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Murrells Inlet is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $395,449 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,751 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,438 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Murrells Inlet, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Murrells Inlet Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.43 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.15 | $45.56 |
Detailed Murrells Inlet Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.22 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.59 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.51 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed Murrells Inlet Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Murrells Inlet Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed Murrells Inlet Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Murrells Inlet | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
Murrells Inlet SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Murrells Inlet
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Murrells Inlet. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Murrells Inlet.
Conway, SC has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Murrells Inlet.
Socastee, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x Murrells Inlet.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Murrells Inlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 38,371 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Conway, SC | 27,263 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Socastee, SC | 23,796 | 97 | 0.9x |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 19,855 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Red Hill, SC | 15,920 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Little River, SC | 11,771 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Georgetown, SC | 8,565 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Forestbrook, SC | 7,479 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Marion, SC | 6,206 | 87 | 0.8x |
