on $100k a year, leaving Philadelphia

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

next stop after philadelphia

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

$169

under Philadelphia, every month

On paper, Myrtle Beach and Philadelphia are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

8% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$27/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$169 more than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$361k

8% cheaper than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

397k

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Philadelphia only logs 173 pleasant days.

88% fewer events than Philadelphia. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

16% lower than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

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

·walk score®

55/100

45% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

81% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

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