CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs St. Petersburg, 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
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Myrtle Beach is moderately cheaper than St. Petersburg — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $86,200 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+51.4%
Myrtle Beach
83.1
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries0.8%
Myrtle Beach
96.3
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation0.8%
Myrtle Beach
103.2
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Myrtle Beach
93.4
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities+0.6%
Myrtle Beach
88
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$86,200
$6,200 more needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.0780. 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×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

St. Petersburg has 51.4% 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

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

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)

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.