on $100k a year, leaving Spartanburg

change
Myrtle Beach, SC cityscape

from spartanburg

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

$293

the monthly premium over Spartanburg

You'd pay for Myrtle Beach. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the myrtle beach entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,727/mo

20% more expensive than Spartanburg(vs $1,434/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

vs 6.5% in Spartanburg

03after rent

$6,065/mo

$293 less than Spartanburg

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

04a house here

$361k

30% more expensive than Spartanburg

vs $277k in Spartanburg

05metro size

397k

vs 383k in Spartanburg

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in myrtle beach.

Spartanburg only manages 191 of those.

53% more happening than in Spartanburg.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

58/100

15% lower than Spartanburg

vs 68/100 in Spartanburg

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

·walk score®

55/100

29% lower than Spartanburg

vs 77/100 in Spartanburg

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

15% more than Spartanburg

vs 20 nonstops in Spartanburg

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