CostIndexUSA

Monroe, LA vs Myrtle Beach, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
SC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Myrtle Beach — 12.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Monroe, you would need $89,600 in Myrtle Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+94.2%
Monroe
42.8
Myrtle Beach
83.1
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Monroe
93.7
Myrtle Beach
96.3
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Monroe
100.5
Myrtle Beach
103.2
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Monroe
90.9
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Utilities+21.9%
Monroe
72.2
Myrtle Beach
88

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Myrtle Beach, SC
$89,600
$9,600 more needed in Myrtle Beach

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 83.6) = salary × 1.1196. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

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 94.2% higher housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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).

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.