Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Myrtle Beach compared to Columbia? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Myrtle Beach | Metric | Columbia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Cost of Living Index | 89 | -7.3% |
| $295,000 | Median Home Price | $230,000 | -22.0% |
| $1,350 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | -22.2% |
| $54,800 | Median Household Income | $55,200 | +0.7% |
| 0.6% | Property Tax Rate | 0.6% | +0.0% |
| 3.5% | Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | +5.7% |
| 22 min | Average Commute | 24 min | +9.1% |
| 40 | Median Age | 33.4 | -16.5% |
| 530,000 | Metro Population | 840,000 | +58.5% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Myrtle Beach costs $1,720/month (PITI) compared to $1,341/month in Columbia — a difference of $379/month or $4,548/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.4x in Myrtle Beach versus 4.2x in Columbia, suggesting Columbia is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 7.2 years to save a down payment in Myrtle Beach compared to 5.6 years in Columbia.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Myrtle Beach | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $54,800 | $55,200 |
| State Income Tax | $1,493 | $1,518 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,447 | $4,495 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,193 | $4,222 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $1,711/yr | $1,334/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $10,133 (18.5%) | $10,235 (18.5%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $44,667 | $44,965 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $10,133 in Myrtle Beach (18.5% effective) versus $10,235 in Columbia (18.5% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $44,667 in Myrtle Beach and $44,965 in Columbia. Property taxes add $1,711/year on the median Myrtle Beach home versus $1,334/year in Columbia.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $54,800 in Myrtle Beach (COL 96) and relocate to Columbia (COL 89), you would need $50,804 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $3,996 and still maintain your lifestyle in Columbia.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Myrtle Beach is 22 minutes versus 24 minutes in Columbia, a difference of 2 minutes each way. Myrtle Beach's lower unemployment rate of 3.5% versus 3.7% suggests a stronger job market. Myrtle Beach skews slightly older with a median age of 40 vs 33.4 in Columbia.
Myrtle Beach is 7.3% more expensive than Columbia overall. Myrtle Beach has a cost of living index of 96 compared to 89 for Columbia (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $295,000 in Myrtle Beach vs $230,000 in Columbia.
The median home price in Myrtle Beach is $295,000, which is $65,000 more than Columbia's median of $230,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,350/month in Myrtle Beach vs $1,050/month in Columbia, a difference of $300/month or $3,600/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $54,800 salary in Myrtle Beach is equivalent to $50,804 in Columbia. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Myrtle Beach's COL index of 96 vs Columbia's 89. Conversely, $55,200 in Columbia equals $59,542 in Myrtle Beach.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $10,133 (18.5% effective rate) in Myrtle Beach vs $10,235 (18.5% effective rate) in Columbia. Property taxes on the median home are $1,711/year in Myrtle Beach (0.6% rate) vs $1,334/year in Columbia (0.6% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.0% in South Carolina and 6.0% in South Carolina.
Myrtle Beach median household income: $54,800/yr. Columbia median household income: $55,200/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,350 in Myrtle Beach vs $1,050 in Columbia. Annualized that is $16,200 vs $12,600.
Columbia offers a lower cost of living (index 89 vs 96), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Myrtle Beach typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Myrtle Beach and Columbia numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Myrtle Beach vs Columbia cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .