South Carolina is one of those destinations where anyone you ask can rattle off several tourist cities, one of which is Myrtle Beach.
This picturesque beach town is constantly in the news for having excellent attractions, fun water sports, and prime nightlife options.
However, just because you enjoy visiting this destination for all it has to offer, does not mean you want to live there.
You need to ask yourself, is this the kind of place I should try to move to?
Before you decide whether to move to Myrtle Beach, keep reading!
Contents
Pros of Living in Myrtle Beach
1. Beach Lovers Paradise
With 60 miles of uninterrupted beaches, you rarely need to be worried about overcrowding on the sand.
The key is to avoid the areas in front of major resorts.
For families, remaining close to the Boardwalk or going to Surfside are the best options.
2. Countless Job Options
If you are considering moving to the area, you must think about the job prospects.
Since the economy is dominated by tourism, approximately 75,000 jobs in this industry exist.
This includes working at hotels, bars, restaurants, retail, and other locations that support the tourist population.
Also, a considerable retirement population calls Myrtle Beach home, so working in a medical center is another option.
3. Endless Entertainment
When living in a place like Myrtle Beach, there are endless entertainment options ranging from long walks on the beach and hiking to bike riding, water sports, volleyball, and other outdoor activities.
If you are more of a nightlife fan, then there are plenty of places to dine, wet your whistle, and tear up the dancefloor.
Do not forget the excellent shopping that will thin out your wallet.
4. Many Healthcare Facilities
Keeping your family healthy when moving is a priority and Myrtle Beach meets those demands with three hospital systems in the area: the Grand Stand Regional Medical Center, the Loris Healthcare System, and the Georgetown Hospital System.
Each location is equipped with urgent care facilities and other specialty services the population may need.
5. Mild Climate
With over 2800 hours per year of sunshine, you will never have a shortage of nice weather.
The summers are hot and humid, but it feels cooler due to the beach location.
The winters experience highs between 57 and 61F, which are incredibly comfortable.
6. Reasonable Cost of Living
One of the biggest issues with most tourist towns is the cost of living gets outrageous.
Luckily, that has not happened yet in Myrtle Beach!
The cost of living index for the area is 93, which is 7% less expensive than the national average.
Housing is the greatest savings, which can be 10 to 30 percent cheaper compared to the national average.
Moreover, the median home price in Myrtle Beach is $216,000 and the rental prices are hundreds of dollars under the median rental cost.
This means that getting a roof over your head is easy.
7. Stunning Views
One of the main draws of Myrtle Beach is the stunning view in the summer.
The hushed roar of the waves, gorgeous sunsets, and palm trees make you feel like you are on an exotic island.
Due to its stunning scenery, the city is a popular destination for photoshoots.
If you are a creative individual looking to move here, link up with the local arts scene and other creatives in the community.
8. Well-Performing Schools
The public and private schools around Myrtle Beach are worth the move.
Students are given exceptional opportunities to succeed, thus producing high graduation rates.
Extensive after-school activities, safe schools, and above-average test scores make this a wonderful place to raise children.
This is a city that emphasizes higher learning!
Cons of Living in Myrtle Beach
1. Awful Roadways
As you will soon learn, traffic during the high tourist season can become unbearable.
If this is not enough, the debris that covers the land can make the city even more challenging for commuting.
The road debris ranges from remnants of other vehicles, nails, plants, lumber, garbage, and roadkill, so it is critical to be alert when driving around the city, regardless of the time of day.
Be extra careful when entering turning lanes as all the debris on the roads gets pushed to the sides.
2. Fast Growing Area
Myrtle Beach consistently ranks as one of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S.
With this population, the boom comes higher crime rates, increasing traffic, longer waits for services year-round, and a cost of living spike.
The growth is not only due to permanent residents moving to the area, but tourism is also continuing to grow with new hotels, restaurants, shops, and other services popping up to support this growth.
3. High Crime
Since Myrtle Beach is considered a party town, you may see higher crime rates than usual.
Most who get into trouble are those who have been partying too hard.
In any case, property and violent crime rates are higher in Myrtle Beach than the average, mostly due to drug deals that have gone bad and gang activity in the area.
As a resident, you have a 1 in 89 chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 9 chance of being a property crime victim.
4. Lack of Privacy
During the prime tourist months, the population boom of foot and vehicle traffic will eliminate your privacy.
If you have a specific part of town, you enjoy frequenting, because it’s relaxing and quiet, it will likely become overrun with visitors.
Some places are remaining that can be a nice getaway within Myrtle Beach, but with the increased tourism and high permanent resident growth rate, these locations are becoming sparser.
5. Less Desirability in the Off-Season
Living in Myrtle Beach could be an exciting venture during tourist season, but many residents find the area unattractive during the off-season.
The lack of individuals on the beach, the lower sunshine level, and the lack of colorful flowers during the winter season can make the entire area look boring, dead, and grey.
Most looking to move to Myrtle Beach will do so in the exciting summer season, so it is important to understand that vibrancy will disappear come fall.
6. Low Incomes
Although the cost of living in this picturesque seaside town is low, the salaries are also low.
With a median household income of around $20,000 less than the national median, there is a huge financial divide in Myrtle Beach.
Part of the reason for such low salaries is the city is a tourist destination, so most jobs are in hospitality.
7. Maintenance Costs
One of the greatest concerns of living in a coastal resort town like Myrtle Beach is your home upkeep.
The salty air is incredibly corrosive to any metals on your home, condo, and vehicle.
There is also the potential for flood damage, depending on where you live in town and the expensive insurance that comes with it.
Those who live in flood zones must purchase supplemental insurance since their homeowner’s policy does not cover this natural disaster.
8. Vacationer Traffic
When first moving to Myrtle Beach, new residents do not realize the extent of tourism.
It is difficult to grasp the population difference between on and off seasons.
Traffic is easy in the winter season and great for residents.
However, once the tourist season begins, traffic jams are the norm, so residents must reserve an additional 10-20 minutes to ensure timeliness.
Pros and Cons of Living in Myrtle Beach, SC – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Myrtle Beach | Cons of Living in Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|
| 1. Beach Lovers Paradise | 1. Awful Roadways |
| 2. Countless Job Options | 2. Fast Growing Area |
| 3. Endless Entertainment | 3. High Crime |
| 4. Many Healthcare Facilities | 4. Lack of Privacy |
| 5. Mild Climate | 5. Less Desirability in the Off-Season |
| 6. Reasonable Cost of Living | 6. Low Incomes |
| 7. Stunning Views | 7. Maintenance Costs |
| 8. Well-Performing Schools | 8. Vacationer Traffic |
Myrtle Beach Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Myrtle Beach Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What food is Myrtle Beach best known for?
With all the incoming tourist activity, it is unsurprising to learn that the city has a distinct food culture well beyond the chain restaurants that dot the area.
Given its coastal location, seafood is the best-known food in Myrtle Beach.
Seafood gumbos, boils, and roasted fish are some of the most popular dishes among residents and visitors.
Also, shrimp and grits are an excellent choice at any establishment.
For those who skip the seafood and prefer a dish from the land, BBQ and pastrami sandwiches are becoming more popular throughout the region.
Many of the top restaurants in top boast a Carolina-style BBQ as the primary attraction.
Additionally, given the diverse population, a variety of ethnic cuisines are available.
Is living near the Myrtle Beach coastline worth it?
While many weather issues can exist when living near the coastline, studies show that those who choose to live along the coast enjoy better physical and mental health.
The lifestyle is much healthier because of the endless sunshine, fresh ocean air, swimming opportunities, walking on beaches, and other outdoor activities that offer extensive exercise opportunities.
What are winters like in Myrtle Beach?
For those who get tired of the tourist season, winters in Myrtle Beach are wonderful, which is why so many snowbirds from the northeast move to the area.
Once the tourists leave town, the lines disappear, the traffic thins, and the late-night partying comes to a minimum.
Also, the average temperature in the winter is a dry and comfortable 60F, which is a nice respite from the northern cold.
That means you can enjoy the endless entertainment options, including outdoor activities, without lines.
Should I be concerned with hurricanes when living in Myrtle Beach?
Approximately every other year, Myrtle Beach experiences one hurricane or tropical storm that passes within 50 miles of the shoreline.
Statistically speaking, this area is impacted by a low-level category hurricane every seven years and a category three or higher hurricane every 30 years.
While hurricanes can and do occur, they are less likely than in other beach towns further south of Myrtle Beach, especially in Florida.
Does Myrtle Beach have elevated levels of allergens?
Unfortunately, Myrtle Beach is a hotbed of allergens such as pollen.
Since the city has a variety of wildflowers and trees that look beautiful, it also irritates sensitive human systems.
Therefore, if you wish to move to Myrtle Beach, bring allergy medication.
What is considered off-season?
Most tourists arrive in Myrtle Beach during the late spring and throughout the summer, so the off-season is considered November through February.
Not surprisingly, this is also at the height of hurricane season, which is then followed by a graduate influx of visitors.
If you can’t afford a real vacation then you go to Myrtle Beach if you did not prepare for the future then you move to live at Myrtle Beach because everything is for low-class people there there’s nothing there that can compete with real vacation spots the water is dirty the sand is nasty there no good nightlife or shopping they rely on the shagging if you look around and do your research take away the shagging and the drunks they have nothing there like I said the only thing that they hang on to is shagging and one day it will be permanently gone seriously don’t waste your time money or effort you get what you pay for you want clean water or dirty water think on that.
Absolutely not the truth … house prices are very high! Also many luxury homes … the area is seeing rapid growth with young families .
I have seriously been looking at relocating to the Myrtle Beach area. The more I look into it the more doubt is raised as to this being a good choice. After reading the comments above if they are on target only makes Myrtle Beach less attractive than it was a month ago when I started investigating the area. As for me, I think I’ll be looking for a more suitable upscale area.
What is shagging as used above? I know the “urban” meaning but????
It is a fast dance, a version of the “Jive” fast dance but looser moves.
I thought about moving away from Myrtle Beach, so I looked/went all over. I compared Myrtle Beach to similar East Coast cities. I always came back with the same conclusion, it is pretty good right here. For the money this place has quite alot of culture. A great library in every town with free tax prep, beautiful gardens to stroll, 65 miles of one beach town butted up to the next. Fun to the north and south. Gyms, pickleball everywhere. Two Tanger malls, movie theaters (multiple with luxury seating), great medical care because Drs want to contract or live here, The intercoastal waterway with bar/restaurants all along the way, lots of shows AND a lot of friends/family want to visit you!
How often does Myrtle Beach get hit by hurricanes ?