CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Myrtle Beach — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $79,100 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.5%
Myrtle Beach
83.1
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Myrtle Beach
96.3
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Myrtle Beach
103.2
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Myrtle Beach
93.4
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities19.1%
Myrtle Beach
88
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$79,100
$900 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 0.9893. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Myrtle Beach, SC

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

New Orleans, LA

Median Home Price
$253,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
86
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

New Orleans has 3.5% higher housing costs compared to Myrtle Beach.

Income & Job Market

Myrtle Beach, SC

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

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

70% of income left after rent (median)

New Orleans, LA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.