$100k salary, packing up from Honolulu

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

next stop after honolulu

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

in our guides

#2

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#2

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Seattle for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#2

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Miami

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities for families

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best warm affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,491

below Honolulu's monthly cost

In Myrtle Beach, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

39% cheaper than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$375/mo less in state tax than Honolulu

vs 11% in Honolulu

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$1,491 more than Honolulu

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

04a house here

$361k

66% cheaper than Honolulu

vs $1061k in Honolulu

05metro size

397k

vs 989k in Honolulu

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Honolulu actually gets more: 316 pleasant days a year.

Noticeably quieter than Honolulu. About 76% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

5% higher than Honolulu

vs 55/100 in Honolulu

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

·walk score®

55/100

44% lower than Honolulu

vs 99/100 in Honolulu

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

55% fewer than Honolulu

vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu

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