Cost of Living in Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Myrtle Beach, SC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Myrtle Beach, SC?
With a price level of 93.6 (U.S. average = 100), Myrtle Beach, SC is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 17% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Myrtle Beach, SC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Housing | 83.1 | −16.9% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 88.0 | −12.0% |
| Other services | 98.3 | −1.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Myrtle Beach, SC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,145 | $45,800/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,229 | $49,160/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,465 | $58,600/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,805 | $72,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,111 | $84,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Myrtle Beach, SC
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Myrtle Beach, SC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,500 | $31,218 |
| $60,000 | $56,200 | $45,122 |
| $80,000 | $74,900 | $58,185 |
| $100,000 | $93,600 | $70,219 |
| $150,000 | $140,500 | $100,025 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, South Carolina 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Myrtle Beach, SC's median wage of $37,930 takes home about $2,628 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,229, which is 47% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,399 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Myrtle Beach, SC
- Federal income tax$2,372
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,352
- Medicare (1.45%)$550
- South Carolina income tax$1,119
- Take-home pay$31,538
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Myrtle Beach, SC
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $80,640 | $61,879 | $66,080 |
| Customer Service Representative | $36,510 | $30,482 | $32,552 |
| Office Clerks, General | $36,190 | $30,244 | $32,298 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,390 | $29,650 | $31,663 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,190 | $29,501 | $31,504 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,320 | $25,137 | $26,843 |
| Cashier | $27,850 | $24,031 | $25,662 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,600 | $23,840 | $25,458 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $17,350 | $15,737 | $16,805 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in South Carolina cities
Half of South Carolina’s 2,305,080 workers earn less than $46,490 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $34,630–$70,340 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Spartanburg, SC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Myrtle Beach, SC is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 97.3 | $1,428 | 42% | $1,947 | $41,608 |
| Greenville, SC | $46,580 | 93.3 | $1,155 | 37% | $2,009 | $40,713 |
| Columbia, SC | $46,430 | 93.7 | $1,139 | 36% | $2,016 | $40,420 |
| Charleston, SC | $49,150 | 101.0 | $1,630 | 49% | $1,693 | $39,500 |
| Augusta, GA | $45,990 | 91.9 | $1,110 | 35% | $2,018 | $40,837 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $47,650 | 91.1 | $1,061 | 33% | $2,169 | $42,575 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $37,930 | 93.6 | $1,229 | 47% | $1,399 | $33,679 |
| Florence, SC | $43,520 | 86.8 | $922 | 31% | $2,053 | $41,135 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $43,850 | 98.0 | $1,623 | 54% | $1,372 | $36,667 |
| Sumter, SC | $42,890 | 88.0 | $972 | 33% | $1,963 | $40,020 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Myrtle Beach, SC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 93.6 | $1,229 | $37,930 | 146,260 |
| Vallejo, CA | 108.5 | $1,705 | $58,620 | 144,130 |
| Fargo, ND | 90.9 | $917 | $51,050 | 148,660 |
| Killeen, TX | 91.1 | $982 | $46,660 | 150,580 |
| Huntington, WV | 88.4 | $829 | $44,600 | 140,740 |
| Gainesville, FL | 96.7 | $1,193 | $47,020 | 152,670 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 89.0 | $800 | $49,360 | 139,260 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Myrtle Beach, SC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area are 93.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 83.1%. It is the #191 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Myrtle Beach, SC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,185 in Myrtle Beach, SC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $37,930.
Can you afford Myrtle Beach, SC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $37,930 median wage takes home about $2,628 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,229 would take 47% of that.
How much is rent in Myrtle Beach, SC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Myrtle Beach, SC are $1,145 for a studio, $1,229 for one bedroom, $1,465 for two bedrooms and $1,805 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Myrtle Beach, SC
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,350
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $29,320
- Cashier — $27,850
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $36,510
- Office Clerks, General — $36,190
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,390