on $100k a year, leaving Portland

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

if you left portland

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

$242

lighter monthly cost than Portland

Myrtle Beach gives you room Portland doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

3% cheaper than Portland(vs $1,781/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$187/mo less in state tax than Portland

vs 8.75% in Portland

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$242 more than Portland

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

04a house here

$361k

36% cheaper than Portland

vs $562k in Portland

05metro size

397k

vs 2.5M in Portland

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Portland only manages 178 of those.

81% fewer events than Portland. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

33% lower than Portland

vs 87/100 in Portland

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

·walk score®

55/100

45% lower than Portland

vs 100/100 in Portland

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

60% fewer than Portland

vs 57 nonstops in Portland

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as myrtle beach:

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