Myrtle Beach, SC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Myrtle Beach, SC Summary

Cost of living in Myrtle Beach research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Myrtle Beach is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in South Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Myrtle Beach is 107, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Myrtle Beach is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Myrtle Beach ranks as the #81 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.

  • Myrtle Beach ranks as the #3,374 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Myrtle Beach is $318,690.

  • The median income in Myrtle Beach is $53,679.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
107
Myrtle Beach's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Myrtle Beach, SC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Myrtle Beach has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Carolina, Myrtle Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than South Carolina's index of 93.

The standard of living in Myrtle Beach ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Myrtle Beach ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.

For more reading on life in Myrtle Beach, check out:

81 out of 99
In South Carolina
3,374 out of 6,489
In America

Myrtle Beach Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Myrtle Beach. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Myrtle Beach is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Myrtle Beach is 102.

  • The Health index in Myrtle Beach is 87.

  • The Housing index in Myrtle Beach is 119.

  • The Transportation index in Myrtle Beach is 89.

  • The Utilities index in Myrtle Beach is 122.

Living Expense Myrtle Beach South Carolina National Average
Overall 107 93 100
Services 95 102 100
Groceries 102 97 100
Health 87 92 100
Housing 119 81 100
Transportation 89 92 100
Utilities 122 109 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
Myrtle Beach Cost of Living Vs. SC

Myrtle Beach, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Myrtle Beach is $318,690.

  • The Median Rent in Myrtle Beach is $1,132.

  • The Median Income in Myrtle Beach is $53,679.

  • The Home Value To Income in Myrtle Beach is 5.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Myrtle Beach is 0.25x.

Statistic Myrtle Beach South Carolina United States
Median Home Value $318,690 $302,294 $303,400
Median Rent $1,132 $1,126 $1,348
Median Income $53,679 $66,818 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.9x 4.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.2x 0.21x
$318,690
Median Home Value
$1,132
Median Rent
$53,679
Median Income

Myrtle Beach, SC Costs By Category

Detailed Myrtle Beach Services Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach Health Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Optometrist $78.1 $125.68
Doctor $137.5 $135.78
Dentist $97.17 $113.29

Detailed Myrtle Beach Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Gasoline $3.18 $3.46
Tire Balancing $46.64 $59.92

Detailed Myrtle Beach Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Myrtle Beach South Carolina
All Electricity $258.5 $193.99
Phone $194.25 $192.25

Myrtle Beach SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
4
Diversity
8.5
Safety
1
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Myrtle Beach

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Myrtle Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Conway, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x Myrtle Beach.

  • Socastee, SC has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Myrtle Beach.

  • North Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Myrtle Beach.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Myrtle Beach
Conway, SC 26,082 97 0.9x
Socastee, SC 24,629 96 0.9x
North Myrtle Beach, SC 19,343 110 1.0x
Red Hill, SC 16,480 101 0.9x
Little River, SC 10,457 100 0.9x
Murrells Inlet, SC 10,087 111 1.0x
Forestbrook, SC 7,450 105 1.0x

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