on $100k a year, leaving Des Moines

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

from des moines

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

$500

the monthly premium over Des Moines

Myrtle Beach runs a little pricier than Des Moines. The case has to be about something other than rent.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

36% more expensive than Des Moines(vs $1,268/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$42/mo more in state tax than Des Moines

vs 6% in Des Moines

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$500 less than Des Moines

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

04a house here

$361k

21% more expensive than Des Moines

vs $300k in Des Moines

05metro size

397k

vs 737k in Des Moines

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Des Moines barely cracks 151 pleasant ones.

Noticeably quieter than Des Moines. About 50% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

5% higher than Des Moines

vs 55/100 in Des Moines

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

·walk score®

55/100

29% lower than Des Moines

vs 78/100 in Des Moines

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

35% more than Des Moines

vs 17 nonstops in Des Moines

04 · see also

neighbors of myrtle beach on the map of tradeoffs:

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