$100k a year, no longer in Chicago

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Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

from chicago

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

$314

less monthly outlay than Chicago

Myrtle Beach is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

20% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$129/mo more in state tax than Chicago

vs 4.95% in Chicago

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$314 more than Chicago

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

04a house here

$361k

1% cheaper than Chicago

vs $365k in Chicago

05metro size

397k

vs 9.3M in Chicago

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Chicago keeps to 153 pleasant days a year.

Lighter on events: Chicago packs 56.3× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

17% lower than Chicago

vs 70/100 in Chicago

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

·walk score®

55/100

45% lower than Chicago

vs 100/100 in Chicago

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

89% fewer than Chicago

vs 217 nonstops in Chicago

04 · see also

cities that play in myrtle beach's register:

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