Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Cherry Grove Pier at Cherry Grove Beach, a neighborhood of the city of North Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina, United States.
Photo by Melikamp via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina cost of living

A moderate coastal budget still has to carry insurance, cooling, transportation, and storm preparation

North Myrtle Beach's catalog estimate is $3,042 per month for a local lifestyle and $4,439 for a couple, with transportation at $1,064 and healthcare at $436. One-bedroom rent is listed at $1,082 and two-bedroom rent at $1,266. The housing comparison is useful, but a coastal household also needs room for wind and flood coverage, air conditioning, parking, maintenance, and a vehicle.

The catalog lists utilities at $224, groceries at $460, dining out at 71, and internet at 420.88 Mbps. Ask for summer electric bills, HVAC age, water and sewer charges, parking fees, association dues, storm repairs, salt-air wear, and the cost of reaching care or groceries during high-season traffic. A monthly estimate is a starting point, not a lease or insurance quote.

North Myrtle Beach property taxes are labeled Low, with a 0.35 percent effective rate, median real estate taxes paid of $1,453, and a median home value of $416,900. South Carolina exempts Social Security and railroad retirement benefits from individual income tax and offers a homestead exemption for qualifying older homeowners. Confirm filing requirements and add sales taxes, insurance, care, transportation, maintenance, and federal taxes to the full household budget.

Planning a monthly budget

The North Myrtle Beach budget has to hold housing, cooling, coastal insurance, transportation, care, storm preparation, and the activities that make the coast appealing at the same time.

Housing
$1,082
Utilities (in rent)
$224
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

Price the coastal home and its coverage together

Request the tax bill, wind and flood insurance quotes, utility history, HVAC age, roof and window records, drainage, association fees, parking terms, salt-air maintenance, and repair history. A low property-tax label does not remove the cost of protecting a coastal home.

How the total can change

A renter, homeowner, couple, frequent visitor, and household with medical travel can spend differently on space, coverage, vehicles, care, parking, and family trips.

Comfortable Living
$4,286

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,439

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$1,082

Very Good

Compare the household you would actually run

A couple hosting family, a renter avoiding maintenance, and a household with regular regional care can have different housing, coverage, transportation, and visitor costs. Add the calendar and storm reserve to the same comparison.

Everyday expenses

A pharmacy trip, beach parking fee, meal, fuel stop, electric bill, insurance payment, storm repair, and medical visit can all draw from the same monthly plan.

Dining Out
$216/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Low

Good

Overall Feel
Moderate
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
6.0%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
10.1%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
27.2%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$68,427

Leave room for coastal days that change

A beach parking fee, pool visit, meal, fuel stop, pharmacy trip, electric bill, insurance payment, storm supply, or repair can appear in one month. Track recurring and seasonal costs before choosing a home.

Could North Myrtle Beach fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$3,042 per month
Two people
$4,439 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$1,082
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

North Myrtle Beach in everyday life

Could North Myrtle Beach work for you?

What may work well

  • Low property taxes, Social Security treatment, strong internet, airport-connected access, public facilities, and a large senior population can support a connected coastal lifestyle.
  • Rent, utilities, groceries, and healthcare are visible comparison anchors, while libraries, parks, beaches, and city programs can support a full calendar.
  • The Grand Strand gives the household more choices for care, shopping, dining, recreation, visitors, and regional travel than a remote beach town.

What to think about

  • Rent, cooling, transportation, healthcare, insurance, parking, maintenance, and storm preparation make North Myrtle Beach more than a simple property-tax comparison.
  • The $1,064 transportation estimate matters even with Coast RTA because care, groceries, beach access, storms, visitors, and evening programs are easier by car.
  • Wind and flood coverage, summer electric bills, moisture, salt-air repairs, roof work, association costs, and parking deserve direct quotes.

Plan a North Myrtle Beach budget from real bills

  1. Request the home records

    Collect the tax bill, homestead information, rent terms, utility history, HVAC and roof age, wind and flood quotes, association fees, parking terms, drainage, moisture, and maintenance history.

  2. Map the vehicle and care costs

    Price fuel, registration, insurance, repairs, parking, Coast RTA or paratransit, pharmacy trips, hospital visits, regional appointments, airport travel, and family trips.

  3. Review South Carolina taxes

    Confirm Social Security, retirement-income, homestead, property, sales, federal, county, and municipal tax treatment with current South Carolina guidance and a qualified tax professional.

  4. Keep a coastal reserve

    Set aside money for cooling, roof and window work, moisture, drainage, wind and flood coverage, storm supplies, power interruptions, medical travel, visitors, repairs, and months with fewer outdoor plans.

Questions retirees ask

What monthly budget does North Myrtle Beach require?

The catalog estimates $3,042 per month for a local lifestyle and $4,439 for a couple. Add coastal insurance, cooling, transportation, parking, maintenance, healthcare, storm supplies, and regional travel before setting a target.

Is housing affordable in North Myrtle Beach?

The catalog lists one-bedroom rent at $1,082 and two-bedroom rent at $1,266, with a median home value of $416,900 and Low property taxes. Confirm current rent, insurance, cooling, association costs, parking, and maintenance for the exact home.

Does South Carolina tax Social Security?

South Carolina Department of Revenue guidance says Social Security and railroad retirement benefits taxed for federal purposes are exempt from South Carolina individual income tax. Review other retirement income, property, sales, and federal taxes separately.

What costs are easy to miss in North Myrtle Beach?

Wind and flood coverage, summer electricity, HVAC and roof work, moisture, salt-air maintenance, parking, vehicle expenses, medical travel, storm supplies, evacuation, visitors, and high-season dining can sit outside a rent or purchase headline.

North Myrtle Beach can work on a carefully priced budget when the household counts cooling, coastal coverage, transportation, care, parking, maintenance, and the actual tax bill alongside rent or purchase costs. Start with the catalog estimates, then replace each major assumption with a bill, quote, or direct call.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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