CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Myrtle Beach, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
SC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Bowling Green is slightly cheaper than Myrtle Beach — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $83,000 in Myrtle Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+31.1%
Bowling Green
63.4
Myrtle Beach
83.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bowling Green
96.2
Myrtle Beach
96.3
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Bowling Green
101.7
Myrtle Beach
103.2
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Bowling Green
92
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Utilities+17.0%
Bowling Green
75.2
Myrtle Beach
88

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bowling Green to see what you'd need to earn in Myrtle Beach to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Myrtle Beach, SC
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Myrtle Beach

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0377. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bowling Green, KY

Median Home Price
$259,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
63.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Myrtle Beach, SC

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
83.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.4×

Myrtle Beach has 31.1% higher housing costs compared to Bowling Green.

Income & Job Market

Bowling Green, KY

Median Household Income
$60,600
Per Capita Income
$34,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
72,294
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationRetailAutomotive

Myrtle Beach, SC

Median Household Income
$69,000
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
34,695
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareRetailReal EstateHospitality

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bowling Green, KY
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Myrtle Beach, SC
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.