CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
FL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Myrtle Beach is moderately cheaper than Sarasota — 9.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $87,500 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+54.0%
Myrtle Beach
83.1
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
96.3
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Myrtle Beach
103.2
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
88
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$87,500
$7,500 more needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.0940. 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×

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

Sarasota has 54.0% 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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.