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 106, 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 92.
The standard of living in Myrtle Beach ranks as #79 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Myrtle Beach ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Myrtle Beach, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Myrtle Beach is 99.
The Groceries index in Myrtle Beach is 98.
The Health index in Myrtle Beach is 117.
The Housing index in Myrtle Beach is 97.
The Transportation index in Myrtle Beach is 102.
The Utilities index in Myrtle Beach is 98.
| Living Expense | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 117 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 97 | 100 |
Myrtle Beach 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Myrtle Beach is $320,925.
The Median Rent in Myrtle Beach is $1,261.
The Median Income in Myrtle Beach is $60,394.
The Home Value To Income in Myrtle Beach is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Myrtle Beach is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $320,925 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,261 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,394 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.3x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 94, 0.9x Myrtle Beach.
Socastee, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x Myrtle Beach.
North Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost of living index of 113, 1.1x Myrtle Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, SC | 27,263 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Socastee, SC | 23,796 | 97 | 0.9x |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 19,855 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Red Hill, SC | 15,920 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Little River, SC | 11,771 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Murrells Inlet, SC | 10,044 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Forestbrook, SC | 7,479 | 102 | 1.0x |
