with $100k coming in, swapping out of Asheville

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Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

swapping out of asheville

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

$155

the monthly premium over Asheville

Almost a wash on cost. The case for Myrtle Beach is about what you'd do there, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

1% cheaper than Asheville(vs $1,738/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$167/mo more in state tax than Asheville

vs 4.5% in Asheville

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$155 less than Asheville

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

04a house here

$361k

16% cheaper than Asheville

vs $430k in Asheville

05metro size

397k

vs 417k in Asheville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Asheville barely cracks 201 pleasant ones.

But the calendar thins out: Asheville stays 1.5× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

12% lower than Asheville

vs 66/100 in Asheville

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

·walk score®

55/100

13% lower than Asheville

vs 63/100 in Asheville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

188% more than Asheville

vs 8 nonstops in Asheville

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