on $100k a year, leaving Ann Arbor

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Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

next stop after ann arbor

Myrtle Beach

sc · metro 397k

photo: Curtis Adams / pexels

a dispatch from

myrtle beach

SC

33.69°N

78.88°W

Myrtle Beach is the Grand Strand's anchor, with 60 miles of beach, more than 80 mini golf courses (it might be the mini golf capital of America), and a boardwalk packed with arcades and pancake houses. Calabash-style fried seafood is a thing. It's a family beach town, full stop, with affordable oceanfront and easy access to Charleston a few hours south.

metro397k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$168

under Ann Arbor, every month

On paper, Myrtle Beach and Ann Arbor are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

17% cheaper than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$188/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor

vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$168 more than Ann Arbor

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$361k

16% cheaper than Ann Arbor

vs $429k in Ann Arbor

05metro size

397k

vs 366k in Ann Arbor

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Ann Arbor barely cracks 154 pleasant ones.

1.6× the events of Ann Arbor, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

4% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor

Closest outdoor draw: Huntington Beach State Park, 15.2 mi.

·walk score®

55/100

43% lower than Ann Arbor

vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

83% fewer than Ann Arbor

vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor

04 · see also

same energy as myrtle beach, different zip code:

see also

sarasota

$147/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

pensacola

$516/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

wilmington

$218/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare myrtle beach with:

SarasotaPensacolaWilmington