CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Olympia, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

Myrtle Beach is moderately cheaper than Olympia — 10.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $88,600 in Olympia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+40.4%
Myrtle Beach
83.1
Olympia
116.7
🛒 Groceries+9.0%
Myrtle Beach
96.3
Olympia
105
🚗 Transportation+1.2%
Myrtle Beach
103.2
Olympia
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.2%
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Olympia
94.5
Utilities+4.2%
Myrtle Beach
88
Olympia
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Olympia, WA
$88,600
$8,600 more needed in Olympia

Formula: salary × (103.7 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.1079. 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×

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Olympia has 40.4% 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

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

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)

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.