on $100k a year, leaving Salinas

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

instead of salinas

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

$1,320

lighter monthly cost than Salinas

Move to Myrtle Beach and the monthly math gets easier. Salinas's rent is the headline; Myrtle Beach's is a footnote.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

39% cheaper than Salinas(vs $2,813/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$233/mo less in state tax than Salinas

vs 9.3% in Salinas

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$1,320 more than Salinas

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

04a house here

$361k

58% cheaper than Salinas

vs $862k in Salinas

05metro size

397k

vs 431k in Salinas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Salinas has the edge here, logging 335 pleasant days a year.

·outdoorscore

58/100

18% lower than Salinas

vs 71/100 in Salinas

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

·walk score®

55/100

30% lower than Salinas

vs 79/100 in Salinas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

283% more than Salinas

vs 6 nonstops in Salinas

04 · see also

if myrtle beach appeals, also worth a look:

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