with $100k coming in, swapping out of Indianapolis

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

if you left indianapolis

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

$507

the monthly premium over Indianapolis

Myrtle Beach costs more than Indianapolis, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

14% more expensive than Indianapolis(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$292/mo more in state tax than Indianapolis

vs 3% in Indianapolis

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$507 less than Indianapolis

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

04a house here

$361k

22% more expensive than Indianapolis

vs $296k in Indianapolis

05metro size

397k

vs 2.1M in Indianapolis

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Indianapolis only logs 174 pleasant days.

But the calendar thins out: Indianapolis stays 3.9× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

6% lower than Indianapolis

vs 62/100 in Indianapolis

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

·walk score®

55/100

44% lower than Indianapolis

vs 99/100 in Indianapolis

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

34% fewer than Indianapolis

vs 35 nonstops in Indianapolis

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